Stole fuel from three filling stations

A man who stole fuel at “pre-Trump prices” from three filling stations, has walked away from court without a conviction after paying €300 to the court poor box.

Victor Godfrey (24), with addresses in Marrowbone Lane, Dublin 8, and Slievebloom Park, Walkinstown, Dublin 12, appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at Athlone District Court on April 8.

As well as the fuel thefts, he was facing two charges of failing to appear in court on February 6, 2026, and July 23, 2025, despite entering into bail bonds in which he agreed to attend court dates.

Mr Godfrey entered guilty pleas to the three “drive-off” charges and elected to have his case dealt with in the District Court.

“Are we talking pre-Trump prices, or post-Trump?” Judge Owens quipped, noting these charges related to dates before fuel prices increased, and amounted to a total of just under €125 worth of fuel.

The first of those charges relates to January 10, 2025, at the Inver Service Station, Dublin Road, Rochfortbridge, when he stole €40.93 worth of fuel.

Thereafter, on January 24, 2025, at Kennedy’s Fuel Station, Monksland, Athlone, Co Roscommon, he stole €34.39 worth of fuel.

Finally, on March 2, 2023, at Circle K, M6 Eastbound, Co Westmeath, he stole a total of €49.18 worth of fuel.

Solicitor Tony McLynn, on behalf of the accused, said Mr Godfrey has no previous convictions.

The accused man was “largely reared by his aunt in Dublin” and was attending college, as an apprentice electrician.

“He fell out with his aunt and was homeless and living in his car for a while. He said it was out of character for him. I told him two or three incidents can become of character,” said Mr McLynn.

Mr Godfrey had brought €300 to court by way of mitigation, which Judge Owens directed be paid to the court poor box.

She then applied the probation act to all five charges.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme