An employee stole fuel worth more than £900 by fraudulently using a company card.
Simon Taylor (29), of Bedford Place, Spalding, admitted four charges of fraud by false representation between October 1 last year and January 31 this year.
Marie Stace, prosecuting, said his offences came to light during a company review of the use of fuel cards.
The value of the fuel Taylor obtained in 18 transactions amounted to £917.62.
Spalding magistrates on Thursday ordered Taylor to pay £500 compensation because of his limited means and gave him a nine month community order with supervision and a drug rehabilitation requirement.
Stuart Wild, mitigating, said Taylor is on income support, but had offered to pay at £10 a fortnight.
Presiding magistrate John Reynolds said: “Obviously this is a very serious offence, theft from an employer, somebody who trusts you, and you have breached that trust and, not only that, it was a significant number of transactions.”