A St Albans man has been ordered to pay compensation after stealing more than 20 bottles of wine and port from a BP petrol station in the city.

Matthew Fell, 41, of High Oaks, was ordered to pay the £220.50 value of his stolen items when he appeared at St Albans Magistrates' Court on Friday (January 5).

This followed two separate thefts from the BP garage in Verulam Road, where 22 bottles were taken.

Firstly, on July 29, Fell stole two 50cl bottles of Port, three bottles of Prosecco, four bottles of Chianti, two bottles of Rioja Crianza, two bottles of Pinota and one bottle of Rioja Reserve.

On August 4, he returned to the petrol station and took three bottles of Merlot, two bottles of Claret, two bottles of Rioja and one bottle of Côtes du Rhône.

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Crimes, such as thefts, can be reported to Hertfordshire police online at www.herts.police.uk/ro/report or by calling the police's non-emergency number 101.

Hertfordshire police's web chat function can be used by visiting herts.police.uk/contact.

Anonymous information can be given by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.