Pennine magistrates heard hard-up dad Carl Anthony Little thought he would take advantage of the high price of fuel to make money and struck six times in a few days, helping himself to diesel worth £2,000.

He was arrested after picking the fuel cap and trying to syphon diesel from a HGV in North Valley Road, Colne. He left the syphoning equipment, with his DNA on it, as he made off.

Little, who has an extensive criminal record and was alrady on a community order, was given a three-month curfew, seven days a week, between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. He must also pay £65 costs.

The defendant (26), of New Market Street, Colne, admitted theft from a vehicle on June 10th and asked for five similar offences to be considered.

Mrs Barbara Webster (prosecuting) said at 1-30 a.m. a lorry driver was asleep on a retail park when he was disturbed.

Little had also targeted a lorry from Bulgaria, two more vehicles in North Valley Road and two in Barnoldswick.

Mr Dylan Bradshaw (defending) said Little had been working until May, providing limited financial help to his ex-girlfriend and child, but was sacked. He had associates in the criminal fraternity and it was suggested one way of making money quickly was to steal diesel.

Mr Bradshaw wemt on: "I have advised him it was a rather idiotic idea as you can't make a living without any risks or repercussions."

He added: "This was a temporary misguided period in his life. He thought he could make a few pounds by stealing other people"s diesel. Clearly that was not the case."