A man has been charged with one count of making off without payment in Bicester following a police investigation.

Alexander Bignell, aged 32, of Harebell Way, Bicester, was charged with the offence on Tuesday December 20.

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The charge relates to an incident at Applegreen service station on Banbury Road on August 20, 2022, where a car left the petrol station without paying for fuel.

Bignell will appear at Oxford Magistrates Court on January 20.

Forecourt fuel crimes are a very real problem and in the UK it’s estimated that over 2.5 million incidents of unpaid fuel are reported every year.  

In the UK, it is only classed as a criminal offence if you purposely drive off without paying for fuel.

If you filled up at the forecourt pumps but had no intention of paying for your petrol or diesel, then that is a punishable offence under the Theft Act 1978.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1