James Hansen, 18, was sentenced on Tuesday to an 18-month good-behaviour order for driving off with petrol three times from the service station in Curtin in October and November last year.

Hansen was in financial difficulty, the ACT Magistrates Court heard, and was struggling to pay rent, a car loan, and rental fees for furniture.

But magistrate Peter Morrison told Hansen that the ''way out is not to commit offences''.

Mr Morrison expressed disbelief at the repeated crimes, on October 21, 25, and November 5. ''I sit here and I look at that and what occurs to me is what could you possibly have been thinking?'' Mr Morrison said.

The total value of the petrol was $253. Hansen has since apologised to the business owners, and has begun to pay the money back.

His defence lawyer described the teenager as a ''young man who has acted extremely foolishly in every sense of the word''.

He made full and frank admissions to police when he was interviewed late last year, and entered an early plea of guilty.

Mr Morrison noted Hansen did not have a history of dishonesty offences, but said ''this is a very significant way of opening your account''.

Hansen was told he had been given another opportunity by the courts, chiefly because of his young age, but was unlikely to be shown leniency if he returned. The 18-year-old has since given his car back to the finance company, moved home with his mother, and ended the furniture rental.