Brett Joseph Barkle faces Yeppoon Magistrates Court for stealing fuel from servo

“I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a thief,” the offender told a magistrate when he faced a Central Queensland court to get his punishment. Here’s what happened.

A man has faced court after he stole fuel from a service station at the Capricorn Coast.

Brett Joseph Barkle, 39, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on April 21 to one count of stealing.

Police Prosecutor Stacey Bain said Barkle attended a BP service station at Yeppoon on the afternoon of January 7.

Ms Bain said CCTV footage showed Barkle stop at a fuel pump 41.81 litres of unleaded fuel, worth $80, into his vehicle.

Ms Bain said Barkle then entered the business and attempted to pay for fuel using a card but that card did not work.

The prosecutor said Barkle provided details to staff and said he would be “back tomorrow to pay for the outstanding fuel” before driving away.

Ms Bain said over the following days, staff tried multiple times to contact Barkle and on January 17, the fuel was reported to police as stolen.

She said on February 7, Barkle contacted Yeppoon police saying he was out of town and that he would pay for the outstanding fuel.

Ms Bain said in early March police made enquiries at the service station and were informed that Barkle still had not paid.

He was subsequently charged.

The court heard that Barkle, who had a one-page criminal history which included a stealing offence 21 years ago, had paid the amount of $80 for the fuel after he was issued a notice to appear in court.

Representing himself in court, Barkle said at the time of the offence he had been “going through a bit of a hard time.”

“I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a thief,” he told Magistrate Jason Schubert.

Barkle added that he always intended to pay the money.

Mr Schubert fined Barkle $300 and did not record a conviction.