TWO men who went on a diesel stealing spree in Warrington have been spared immediate custody.

Mohammed Fraz Aslam and Wayne Bracegirdle, both of Morrison Street in Bolton, appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court last week to learn their fate.

The court heard how on February 5, the pair stole diesel to the value of £100 belonging to Andrzej Piotr Zugiaj.

They also targeted Hanson Ready-mixed Concrete, of Gatewarth Industrial Estate in Sankey Bridges, on the same date, again stealing diesel but of an unknown value.

In the act of pilfering fuel from the Barnard Street firm, both Salam, 40, and Bracegirdle, 42, damaged a perimeter fence to the value of £100.

The duo each pleaded guilty to two charges of theft from a motor vehicle and one charge of criminal damage when being hauled before magistrates last month.

Jane Shaw, defending, asked the bench to take the defendants’ guilty pleas into account when handing down its sentence.

Chair magistrate Michael Danaher sentenced Aslam to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months.

He noted that the offences were ‘too serious’ to impose anything other than a custodial sentence due to their ‘planned and sophisticated nature’.

But he added that suspending them would provide the defendant with an opportunity to ‘self-rehabilitate’.

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In addition, Aslam was ordered to adhere to a curfew for 12 weeks, monitored by an electronic tag.

Bracegirdle also received a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months due to his ‘prospect of rehabilitation’, but was told he must complete 21 rehabilitation activity requirement days aimed at improving his thinking skills.

Both were told they must each pay £292 in court costs.