Court backs psv appeal
Page 24
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LEWES magistrates have overruled a Traffic Commissioner's decision and gave back a coach driver's public service vehicle licence.
They were told that the appeal by Robert Thompson, 24, of Lambeth Close, Broadfield, Crawley, had "no known precedent".
Counsel for Mr Thompson, Michael Lovesay, said he had held a licence issued by the SE Traffic Commissioners, but was now living in Crawley which came within the area of the Metropolitan Commissioners.
Mr Thompson first obtained an ordinary driving licence about six years ago and in 1974 he was granted a public service vehicle licence, which expired last year.
He was employed by the Southdown bus company for a year as a bus driver and left of his own accord, going to work for a Newhaven firm driving a staff coach.
In 1976 Mr Thompson had had matrimonial problems and as a result was involved in an incident in which his wife was killed.
He was convicted of manslaughter at the Old Bailey and was jailed for two years.
He was released from jail in ,August, 1977 shortly before his psv licence expired. His application for a new licence was refused.
Since that date he had been employed in Crawley as a coach driver and his conduct had been perfectly satisfactory. He would continue in that work pending the appeal.
Mr Thompson said he had driven 20,000 miles without incident and enjoyed his work.
John Orr, of the Metropolitan Police public carriage office, said the Commissioners had objected to the application to safeguard the public. Mr Thompson had been convicted of a particularly violent crime; There was no known precedent for the case, he added. The Commissioners had indicated that the application might be reconsidered in a year.
Kenneth Dow, for the Commissioners, submitted that one year's wait was appropriate.
C. A. Chadwyck, the presiding magistrate, said the case had been interesting and difficult. The magistrates were of the opinion that the appeal should succeed.
The Traffic Commissioners would be directed to grant Mr ,Thompson a psv licence.