A Bunbury man was forced to pay compensation following a series of fuel drive-offs from earlier this year.
Mon-Tel Laffette Tahana attended Bunbury Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to four counts of stealing.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Darren Clifton told the court Tahana stole 34.29 litres of unleaded petrol, worth $50, from Caltex Starmart on Saturday, March 9.
Twelve days later, he returned to Caltex Starmart and stole another 28.8 litres of fuel, worth $40, before leaving the area.
The 40-year-old then stole $20.13 worth of petrol from Coles Express, Glen Iris on Tuesday, March 26.
In a separate incident, he returned to Coles Express and stole another 57.13 litres of fuel, worth $80.
Tahana drove the same vehicle during all four incidents.
The court was told Tahana had no prior offences of this type. His record included one traffic-related charge from 2015.
The 40-year-old said he and his family were undergoing financial strain, at the time. He also revealed he had become stressed after being laid off.
"It's a shame that I had to do what I did," he said. "I won't be able to pay any fines. I would really prefer to do some community work."
Sgt. Clifton said it was acceptable for Tahana to receive a Community Based Order, with a work component.
Magistrate Belinda Coleman handed down a three-month Community Based Order with 20 hours of community service.
"You must keep in contact with Community Corrections," she said. "You will be re-sentenced, if you breach the order."
Tahana was ordered to re-pay both businesses.
