A dad-of-seven who made off without paying for fuel at several petrol stations across Kent and drove his BMW with no insurance has avoided jail.

Brazen Ricky Beaney, 36, from Challock, near Ashford, even tricked staff at one garage into giving him a refund for some engine oil he'd just picked up from a shelf.

Beaney who has a "very long list of previous convictions", has now been banned from driving for three years.

He first struck in February at the Tesco Extra petrol station in Hythe Road, Willesborough, Ashford, when he put £70.03 worth of diesel in his vehicle.

He drove off without paying and then did the same in Queenborough later that month when he put £69.97 of diesel in his BMW 525 D at the Morrisons petrol station in Thomsett Way.

Later in February he put £40.01 of diesel in the car at the Co-op Service Station in Mount Pleasant, Ramsgate, and left without coughing up any cash.

The court also heard before filling up with the fuel he'd gone into the garage's shop and picked up a bottle of engine oil valued at £21.99.

He told staff he'd purchased it before and had the wrong one and wanted a refund, which he was given.

During the same month, he went to the BP petrol station in Hythe Road, Willesborough, and put £50.14 of diesel in his BMW and drove away without paying.

Each time he filled up he was found to have no insurance to drive the car and was charged with five counts of driving without insurance.

Beaney was also charged with four counts of making off without payment, and one count of fraud in relation to the refund he'd gained.

He admitted the offences in August and October at Folkestone Magistrates' Court.

Magistrates ordered a pre-sentencing report be carried out on him and he returned there on November 22 to be sentenced.

Amanda Burrows, prosecuting, told the court Beaney was arrested on March 2 driving the BMW and during interviews made no comment.

Ms Burrows said: "He has previous convictions for driving while disqualified and without insurance."

The court also heard Beaney was grieving for his father and then his mother died. At the time of the offences he was separated from his family and living in his car.

Magistrates were told he was getting about by stealing the diesel and that when life gets difficult for him he carries out dishonest offences.

However, the bench was also told Beaney's life is not so quite as bad as it was when he committed the offences.

They heard he has now got a job and is again back with his family looking after his seven children.

Magistrates jailed Beaney for 120 days but suspended the term for 18 months. They ordered he carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation sessions.

He was also disqualified from driving for three years and his licence was endorsed.

Beaney was ordered to pay £274 compensation to the petrol stations, a £128 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Chairman of the bench Jean Sanderson said: "This is quite a catalogue of offences to add to your very long list of previous convictions."