Philip James, 25, went on a three-month fuel spree at truck stops and garages across the North West, using cards he should have given back.
But in November 2019, the company's compliance manager noticed a discrepency of £52,310 in the books. He reported the matter to Action Fraud which later handed the case to Lancashire Police. Officers tried to trace James, but could not locate him at any of the addresses linked to him. However on March 27, 2023, he was caught and arrested. In interview, he admitted he had been filling up fuel drums and barrels and using false vehicle plates which did not show up on the police national computer . He claimed a man called Chris offered to pay him for barrels of fuel.