THE MAN WHO DRINKS PETROL
Feb 4 2005
Garage ban for maniac
By Kevin Donald
A MAN has been banned from garages – for sneaking on to forecourts to drink petrol.
Brian Taylor, 36, has been branded a four-star pest for slashing hoses to get at the fuel and terrorising staff and shoppers.
He was pictured on security cameras pouring a drink of unleaded before doing a maniacal dance while high on fumes.
Taylor, who doesn’t drive, has been issued with an anti-social behaviour order banning him from all garages in Teesside.
The ASBO means he can’t even get a carry-out – as the order forbids him having a petrol can in a public place.
Taylor, of South Bank, Middlesbrough, was warned that if his behaviour doesn’t stop he will go to jail.
Teesside magistrates heard that on 51 occasions he terrorised staff and shoppers after drinking and sniffing petrol at the filling station at Asda’s South Bank store.
On several occasions, he was aggressive when they tried to stop him.
Security footage taken in the early hours one day in July last year showed him dancing wildly around pumps while worried staff watched from their kiosk.
He was caught filling containers day and night after making holes in the hoses.
He usually went for unleaded but was happy with four star and diesel, police said.
Sergeant Bryan Tams, of Cleveland police, said Taylor’s actions were a danger to himself and the public.
He said: ‘People have turned up at the station, not knowing the pipe’s been cut.
‘When they have tried to put petrol into their car they have been sprayed all over with petrol, which is very dangerous.
‘I’ve heard reports of meetings called to control his behaviour when he turned up stinking of petrol. The fumes have been so bad he’s been asked to leave the building.’
It is thought his actions have cost Asda more than £3000 in damage and lost fuel.
Taylor denies drinking petrol – but admits he loves to sniff it.
Footage showed him filling an empty fizzy drink bottle with fuel, lifting it to his lips and putting back his head. He claims he was just inhaling the fumes.
Sgt Tams said: ‘He laughs at the idea he’d drink it. He says, ‘I’m daft but not that daft.’ Police say they are trying to get help for Taylor to battle his addiction.
Petrol is a mixture of volatile toxic hydrocarbons, which are quickly absorbed through the stomach and lungs and act as a depressant, similar to alcohol.
Sniffing or drinking the chemical gives an instant high – but it may contribute to brain damage and harm the central nervous system and major organs.
