A THIEF told police that he was crouching beside a car while holding a knife and a hammer because he was suffering from a stomach upset, a court heard.

Darlington Magistrates' Court was told two versions of how Mark Dunn stole diesel from a tanker and went equipped to steal.

Blair Martin, prosecuting, said that Dunn had siphoned the fuel, belonging to Stanway Commercials, in Darlington, between January 6 and 9.

He was also charged with going equipped to steal on January 25, after CCTV operators noticed him checking car doors in the town centre before police found him crouched beside one, added Mr Martin.

In interview, Dunn told police that he was crouching due to a stomach upset.

Despite pleading guilty to both offences, Dunn claimed that the facts of the prosecutions case were wrong.

Laura Saunders-Jerrom, mitigating, said that Dunn had been walking his dog on January 9 when he noticed some piping hanging from a diesel tanker.

"He knew somebody had been stealing diesel and foolishly decided that he would have a go, " said Mrs Saunders Jerrom.

"He had nothing in which to carry the diesel, so he pleaded guilty on the grounds that he had formed the intention to steal."

Mrs Saunders-Jerrom also said that Dunn had gone out to steal on January 25, after borrowing from friends on the basis that he would be getting some money from the council.

Dunn, who lives in Shakespeare Road, Darlington, was given a six-month curfew to run from 7am to 7pm.