Absolute discharge for lost wheels
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• Lancashire haulier Grant Parker was given an absolute discharge for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition following a wheel loss incident, after Leyland Magistrates accepted that he had been neither to blame nor negligent. Parker, who admitted the offence, was ordered to pay ELIO costs.
The magistrates were told that last September a Scania tipper operated by Parker lost a pair of wheels on the southbound carriageway of the M6. One wheel was found on each side of the motorway and five of the 10 wheelnuts were found at the scene.
Parker said that the wheelnuts were tightened to the manufacturer's recommendation using a torque wrench. The vehicle had been inspected on the Sunday before the Saturday when the accident occurred. There had been no wheel change and he had checked that the wheel nuts were still tight to the recommended level by applying a torque wrench. Defending, John Backhouse said the vehicle was regularly maintained and Parker had done everything reasonably possible to avoid such an incident