Jail for stealing petrol

The ringleader of a brazen gang of petrol thieves was jailed yesterday for seven and a half months.

Aaron Elvis Gwatkin, 17, and five friends this year stole at least 19 car registration plates and used them in 60 separate thefts of $2938 worth of petrol in many North Island centres.

Gwatkin admitted stealing the plates and conspiring to commit theft.

In Hawera District Court, Judge Louis Bidois said the offending was persistent and premeditated.