A former emergency services worker more used to helping other people decided to help himself after twice driving off without paying for petrol.

Samshid Miah, of Lambourne Road, Barking, pleaded guilty to driving his Nissan car away from an Esso garage in Collier Row Road, Romford, on two separate occasions without paying —¬ making off with a combined £100 in petrol.

Miah has previously worked in a call centre which dispatches ambulances to emergency 999 calls and said he hoped to be employed by the service again.

He was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, April 11.

Prosecutor Adeolu Odusote said Miah filled his car with £40 of petrol at the Esso garage on Sunday, January 13, before driving off without paying. He did the same on Friday, February 22, after filling up with £60 worth of petrol.

The prosecution said the 40-year-old initially denied knowledge of the theft following his arrest in March but admitted to the offences once shown CCTV footage.

The court heard how Miah, defending himself, was a drug addict of four years and uses class A drugs, in particular heroine.

“He drove up and drove off hoping he would get away with it,” said his probation officer. “He was spending £30 a day on heroine but has now reduced that to £10 a day.

“He wants to address his drug issue but has never been on a drug programme before.”

Speaking in court Miah said: “I’m very sorry. I’m ashamed of myself. Obviously I use drugs quite a bit and I didn’t know what I was doing.

“I have cut down and I hope to give up. Hopefully I won’t do this again.”

Miah was given a 12 month community order, a 12 month supervision order and told he was required to attend a six month drug rehabilitation programme.

District Judge Gary Lucie ordered him to pay the full £100 back to the Esso garage but did not disqualify the defendant from driving which was deemed crucial to his new part-time job. The victim surcharge was also waived.