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Fuel retailer pleads guilty and fined £60,000 for selling petrol in a drinks bottle
Posted 09/03/20
At Chelmsford Magistrate’s Court today (6 March 2020), the company pleaded guilty to charges of selling petrol in an unsuitable container and failing to adequately train a staff member in the lawful sale of petrol.
Petrogas UK Ltd was fined £60,000, ordered to pay £5,770 in costs and a victim surcharge of £170.
As revealed in court, the charges relate to a transaction on 13 May 2019 at their Woodbridge Road branch. Filmed on CCTV, Mrs Fiona Foster purchased a bottle of drink from the petrol station shop, poured the contents onto the forecourt and filled the empty bottle with petrol from a pump. This petrol was then used at an incident for which Mrs Foster has since admitted attempted murder and arson.
Although these consequences were not taken into account in the verdict, the judge said that “the public was put at risk” and described the case as “unusual and sensational”.
A Suffolk County Council Trading Standards spokesperson, said:
“Businesses must comply with the rules and have practices in place to keep their staff and the public safe. Petrol can only be dispensed into suitable containers, which must be clearly labelled with the words PETROL and HIGHLY FLAMMABLE.’’
“Petrogas UK Ltd failed to do this at their premises on Woodbridge Road, breaching health and safety standards. We will continue to work with businesses to ensure petrol is stored and handled safely, but we will take action when we need to.”
Councillor Richard Rout, Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Protection at Suffolk County Council, said.
“Our Trading Standards officers regularly work alongside local businesses, giving them advice and information to operate safely. But we will prosecute when necessary, in order to protect the public.
“This successful prosecution shows the variety of work which our officers carry out every day, to keep us all safe. If you ever have concerns about a potential scam, faulty product or poor service, I encourage you to report it.”
You can report such activity, in confidence, by contacting the national Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
Petrogas UK Ltd was fined £60,000, ordered to pay £5,770 in costs and a victim surcharge of £170.
As revealed in court, the charges relate to a transaction on 13 May 2019 at their Woodbridge Road branch. Filmed on CCTV, Mrs Fiona Foster purchased a bottle of drink from the petrol station shop, poured the contents onto the forecourt and filled the empty bottle with petrol from a pump. This petrol was then used at an incident for which Mrs Foster has since admitted attempted murder and arson.
Although these consequences were not taken into account in the verdict, the judge said that “the public was put at risk” and described the case as “unusual and sensational”.
A Suffolk County Council Trading Standards spokesperson, said:
“Businesses must comply with the rules and have practices in place to keep their staff and the public safe. Petrol can only be dispensed into suitable containers, which must be clearly labelled with the words PETROL and HIGHLY FLAMMABLE.’’
“Petrogas UK Ltd failed to do this at their premises on Woodbridge Road, breaching health and safety standards. We will continue to work with businesses to ensure petrol is stored and handled safely, but we will take action when we need to.”
Councillor Richard Rout, Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Protection at Suffolk County Council, said.
“Our Trading Standards officers regularly work alongside local businesses, giving them advice and information to operate safely. But we will prosecute when necessary, in order to protect the public.
“This successful prosecution shows the variety of work which our officers carry out every day, to keep us all safe. If you ever have concerns about a potential scam, faulty product or poor service, I encourage you to report it.”
You can report such activity, in confidence, by contacting the national Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
ENDS
Suffolk County Council news release:
For further information contact: Ben Matthews
Tel: 01473 264389 Email: [email protected]
For further information contact: Ben Matthews
Tel: 01473 264389 Email: [email protected]
