24-year-old cuts fuel hoses at 13 service stations – sentenced to conditional sentence and 260,000 kronor compensation
A 24-year-old man from western Sweden severed hoses at 13 petrol stations over two days in protest against fuel prices. Alingsås district court sentenced him to a conditional sentence and 160 day fines.
24-year-old sabotaged 13 service stations in western Sweden – "I didn't really think it through"
A 24-year-old man from western Sweden purchased a red plastic pipe cutter and severed fuel hoses at 13 petrol stations over almost three days at the end of June last year. According to Dagens Nyheter, the man – who called himself "Fuel Man" – wanted to protest against the state over high fuel prices and plans to increase ethanol blending in petrol.
The spree began at 5 p.m. on 28 June with the purchase of the cutter. Before the evening was over, he had cut hoses at four locations in Vårgårda and Alingsås. Over the following days he continued in Borås and Lerum. In total, he severed hoses at stations belonging to Preem, St1, OkQ8 and Gulf.
Victims sprayed with petrol and diesel in the face
The sabotage had direct consequences for several people who were unaware that the hoses were damaged. A technician sent to a service station in Vårgårda the morning after the first attack was sprayed with petrol on his face and clothes.
"I ran straight to the toilet to flush my eyes with large amounts of water. My vision became very blurred. Once I started to get my sight back somewhat, I drove home to shower off. All my clothes had to be thrown away because they were soaked in petrol," he said during questioning.
A woman with two children in her car was sprayed with diesel over herself and her daughter when she tried to fill up in Borås. Another woman was affected in Lerum with petrol on her trousers and jumper. At a service station in Lerum, the spraying did not stop until a customer found the emergency stop button.
Did not disguise himself and drove his own registered car
The investigation, despite its scope, was relatively straightforward for the police. The man had not disguised himself and surveillance cameras showed that he was driving a car registered in his own name. He presented himself for questioning the same day the raids concluded.
When asked what he had achieved with the action, he answered laconically:
"I didn't really think it through."
He explained that he likes old cars and had heard that ethanol in fuel damages older engines and carburettors. That ethanol can cause certain problems in older cars is not entirely wrong, writes Auto Motor & Sport – but the Transport Agency refers to Mobility Sweden, which states that most petrol-driven private cars, even older models, can be driven on E10.
Apologised in letter – called himself "Fuel-man"
Some remorse seems to have set in quickly. Through a friend, the man had apology letters delivered to several of the affected service stations. In the letters he called himself Fuel-man and wrote:
"I apologise for the sabotage at your service station. I am sorry for it and I am ashamed. It was wrong. The plan was for the state to get it. But the plan went wrong right from the start."
He also asked the service station owners to put up a notice saying that he was ashamed, "so your customers know it", and promised to take his punishment.
District court: nine months' custodial value – but conditional sentence
Alingsås district court has now convicted the 24-year-old of endangering others in two cases, 13 counts of criminal damage and causing bodily harm. The district court assessed the total custodial value at nine months' imprisonment.
Because the man has no previous convictions and the court has no reason to believe he will commit further offences, the sentence was a conditional sentence and 160 day fines – equivalent to 8,000 kronor.
The compensation is more severe. He is ordered to pay service station owners and the private individuals harmed a total of 260,232 kronor.
During the trial, he admitted the offences but disputed prosecutor Rebecka Nordlund's assessment that they should be classified as serious criminal damage. He also did not accept the requested compensation amounts.
Complete list of affected stations
The 13 counts of criminal damage for which the man was convicted took place at the following locations:
- 28 June: Preem in Vårgårda – four hoses severed.
- 28 June: A haulage company in Alingsås – three hoses severed.
- 28 June: St1 in Alingsås – three hoses severed.
- 28 June: Preem in Alingsås – three hoses severed.
- 29 June: OkQ8 in Borås – three hoses severed.
- 29 June: Preem in Lerum – three hoses severed.
- 29 June: Preem in Gråbo, Lerum – three hoses severed.
- 29 June: Petrol station in Sjövik, Lerum – three hoses severed.
- 30 June: Gulf in Gråbo, Lerum – three hoses severed.
- 30 June: Petrol station in Hedared, Borås – one hose severed.
- 30 June: OkQ8 in Stenkullen, Lerum – three hoses severed.
- 30 June: St1 in Alingsås – three hoses severed.
- 30 June: Preem in Alingsås – three hoses severed.
Source: Dagens Nyheter