A man charged with a spate of petrol thefts will appear before magistrates today.

James Mailer, 35, of Rochford Avenue in Loughton is accused of stealing £130.02 of fuel between December 11 and January 22.

He is alleged to have taken diesel without paying for it on six separate occasions from petrol stations in Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Harlow and Waltham Abbey.

He will appear in Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today.