A CIVILIAN worker at the Royal Logistics Corps' regional depot in

Stirling pilfered Army petrol worth hundreds of pounds over a two-year

period, Stirling Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

Robert Connell, 24, of Burns Street, Raploch, Stirling, helped himself

to petrol on 143 occasions between April 1991 and April 1993, when he

was employed as a petrol and lubricants attendant at the depot.

Depute-fiscal Sheila McDermid said the quantities taken varied from #5

worth to #19 worth a time.

Connell, who admitted theft, told the court he had since resigned his

job with the Ministry of Defence, and was working as a tar layer.

Sheriff Robert Younger deferred sentence until August 22 for a

background report, and advised Connell to get a solicitor.

The depot and an adjoining Engineer Park are due to close in 1996,

with the loss of 98 jobs, as a result of the defence review announced

earlier this month.