Making Off Without Payment, Bilking, Fill and Burn
Making off without payment is an increasingly common offence. Often it relates to passengers running off from a taxi without paying the fare, or customers driving away from a petrol station without paying for their fuel. The offence is outlined in Section 3 of the Theft Act 1978.
If you are accused of making off without payment, the prosecution must prove that:
- You have obtained goods or received a service,
- That you knew immediate payment for those goods or services was required or expected, and
- You have dishonestly left without making the required payment, intending to avoid paying the amount due
Making off without payment is an either way offence, and so can be dealt with in either the Magistrates Court or the Crown Court. The maximum sentence available in the Magistrates Court is 6 months, while the Crown Court can impose up to 2 years imprisonment. The sentence guidelines for the offence suggest that the majority of offenders would be likely to receive Community Orders.
If you have been accused of making off without payment, it is important that you have expert advice from a specialist criminal defence lawyer. Contact us to see if we can help you find tan experienced solicitor or barrister for your case.
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