A COURT has ordered the destruction of two vans used when about �1,000 worth of diesel was stolen from lorries parked at a Whittlesey business.

The theft at Hanson Brick was carried out on January 22 this year and discovered when plain-clothed police followed a Ford Galaxy car onto an adjacent lorry park at 2am.

Two occupants inside the car were arrested when officers found 19 containers full of diesel inside the vehicle.

Also inside the vehicle was a large battery, a funnel and blue piping. Inside the passenger side pocket was spanners, screwdrivers and a torch.

One of the car’s occupants claimed to have bought the diesel from gypsies.

Inside the car, officers also found keys to an Iveco lorry that was parked in lorry park. Inside the lorry officers found 175 containers of diesel and alongside the vehicle were 75 empty containers, similar to those inside the Galaxy.

It was later discovered that 10 lorries had been subjected to diesel theft and one filler cap had been forced open. Bricks had been moved to allow vehicular access to the site.

Tomas Staciukevicius, 29, of Hawthorn Road, Peterborough, the driver of the vehicle, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and was jailed for eight months at Peterborough Crown Court. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months after admitting a charge of driving without insurance.

The passenger of the vehicle, Marius Mejeris, 27, of Northfield Road, Peterborough, also pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and was given an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years, and a two-month curfew.

Magistrates also ordered for the vehicles and the diesel containers to be destroyed.