A DRUG addict who doesn't pay for petrol in order to clear his debt with dealers has been jailed.

Joseph Nabil failed to pay for fuel at Texaco in Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth on four occasions between October 22 and November 24 last year. He was convicted of the charges despite not turning up to a trial at Poole Magistrates' Court.

The 43-year-old also admitted two further accounts of fraud, one of which related to a failure to pay for fuel at the garage in Bath Road, Bournemouth on November 29 2018.

In addition, he admitted the commission of a further offences during the operational period of suspended sentence order made for seven similar counts of making off without payment.

During an earlier hearing, Nabil, of Edgehill Road in Bournemouth, wept in court as his solicitor David Hurley explained he commits offences to wipe out debts.

"He has had, in the past, some misuse of drugs. He has run up debts with drug dealers," Mr Hurley said.

In order to repay the debts, Nabil travels as a passenger in cars before getting out to refuel the vehicles. However, he doesn't pay for the petrol, Mr Hurley said.

The defendant has been 'threatened with violence' as a result of his debts.

Mr Hurley said: "He is doing it to keep drug dealers off his back."

Nabil was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison.