Two Llanwern ' Men Plead Guilty
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TWO Cardiff men accused of conspiring with two others to cheat and defraud lorry owners by selling B licences at exorbitant rates changed their plea at the Glamorgan Assizes in Swansea on Tuesday and admitted the offence (see The Commercial Motor, July 5).
Originally all four men—William H. Jacka, a former M.o.T. clerical officer, George W. Escott. Vaughan Thomas. and Alfred G. Matthews—had denied the charges. But when the prosecution closed its case, Jacka and Thomas admitted "conspiring together and with other persons unknown between September, 1960. and January, 1962, to cheat and defraud persons who wanted to obtain licences for carrying goods by road, and inducing them to part with their money".
Judgment on Jacka was deferred but Thomas was fined £50; Escott and Matthews still denied the charges.
Mr. Philip Wien, prosecuting, alleged that Jacka and Escott first thought of the idea when they saw that lorry owners delivering hard core to the Spencer steel works site at LIanwern, Newport, were growing desperate as the first phase of the project neared its end. Jacka and Escott decided there were some " easy pickings" Matthews. who worked for Howells Garages Ltd., was in a position to tell hauliers they could obtain these two-year licences for £100 or so. Thomas, who worked with Jacka at the M.o.T. offices, was also in on the deal, said Mr. Wien.
Several hauliers told the court of the money they had paid for their licences. They met Jacka at Escott's house, the prosecution claimed.
Escott. in evidence, denied he had any part in the conspiracy. He said that Jacka told him the second phase of the building of the Spencer Steel Works was due to begin. About 200 vehicles would be involved and he could get them B licences for £100 each. " He asked me if I could cash the £100 cheque he was paid in my name and pay him the cash —he said he was unable to conduct any business himself because he lived in a council house and because he already had an overdraft ", added Escott.
"I agreed and hauliers were sent by Matthews to -see me at my house ", he continued. " The haulage trade was in a shocking condition at this time and I did my best to help the„hattlicrs find work."