A thief raided a petrol station with three unknown associates and stole more than £460 of goods - including engine oil and shopping baskets.

Steven Padley and the others swiped the items from the BP garage in John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells.

Sevenoaks magistrates heard how the 44-year-old went to the business on July 21 and took the motor oil by putting it in the baskets and leaving.

He was identified and later arrested.

Padley, previously of Cranwell Road in the town but now of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to one count of shoplifting when he appeared in court on December 18.

James Nichols, prosecuting, said: “There were three others and they all stole the items together.

“The combined value of the goods was £460.95p and the items were not recovered.

“This is an old offence and if it was before the court in November, when he was in for similar offences, as it should have been, it wouldn’t have made a difference to the suspended sentence he was given then.”

Andrew Main, defending, told magistrates Padley appeared in court on November 6 and was given a 26-week sentence suspended for 18 months which involved him completing 20 rehabilitation sessions which will also help him with his mental health.

As a result, magistrates decided to place him on a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered he pay £100 compensation to the garage as well as paying a victim surcharge of £26.