A scrap metal dealer has admitted theft after being caught on camera helping himself to a bin of metal shavings.

Luke Hopkins regularly drove around the Chaucer Business Park, in Kemsing, near Sevenoaks, for scrap metal.

He even had permission from most firms based there to help himself to whatever he found outside their premises.

However, in February last year, he came across a container full of metal shavings outside engineering firm, Turncircuit Ltd, and emptied the entire receptacle into his van and drove off intending to sell it.

But the 32-year-old’s actions were caught on the firm’s CCTV systems and because the business was going to sell the bin of shavings to a recycling firm, they contacted police to report the matter as theft, despite the container being outside the perimeter of their building.

Hopkins, of St Johns Road, Sevenoaks, was later charged with theft (including by finding), and admitted the offence when he appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on February 19.

District Judge Stephen Leake heard he took the shavings, worth £330, on February 12, last year.

Sidumiso Moyo, prosecuting, said: “The business is on an industrial estate and they leave the shavings outside the premises in metal bins.

“He was seen on CCTV emptying the bin and he was told by other people (at firms on the estate), he was allowed to collect the scrap, but this firm was storing them to sell on for recycling.”

Judge Leake also heard Hopkins had a couple of previous convictions including an attempted burglary in 2010, but had not offended since 2014, when he was convicted of handling stolen goods.

Katherine Tuthill, defending, pointed out the offence happened 12 months ago.

She added: “He had permission (to take scrap) from other businesses on the industrial estate and he is registered (as a scrap metal dealer), but he is not working now and is on Universal Credit as he has depression and family issues.”

Judge Leake said it was an unusual theft and gave Hopkins credit for his guilty plea.

But the judge did note that Hopkins never had permission from Turncircuit Ltd to take its scrap as they were going to sell it on again and that his last conviction was more 10 years old.

As such, he didn’t think it was a particular aggravating factor to the new offence.

He placed Hopkins on a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered he pay Turncircuit Ltd £330 compensation as well as £85 court costs.