A man who was living in his car at Treliske filled it up with petrol from four filling stations when he needed it and each time left without paying the bill.

At Truro Magistrates’ Court Philip John Hull, 53, of Godolphin Road, Helston, pleaded guilty to three offences of making off without payment, at Falmouth, Penryn and Truro, and asked for one other similar offence to be taken into |consideration.

He told the magistrates he had had various properties in his life, which he had let to the homeless. He then broke his back, lost his marriage, his homes, and everything went down hill.

His experience with trying to gain benefits for himself had been “absolutely tragic.”

He said: “Society don’t seem to want to help me.”

He had committed the offences in desperation as he needed to get around in his car for interviews.

Hull was given a conditional discharge for two years, told to pay compensation of £281.44 for the petrol he took, and £15 victim surcharge.