Cleared of collusion
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by Jeff Weaver • International haulier Ralph Davies has been cleared of colluding with one of his drivers to fiddle tachograph records.
Gloucester Crown Court recorded not guilty verdicts on Davies, 48, after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offered no evidence on five deception charges. The Cheltenham haulier denied all charges that he colluded with driver Peter Bowkett in falsifying tachograph charts used on trips to Spain between May and June 1993. Bowkett, 39, of Foley Road, Newent, Gwent, had earlier pleaded guilty to three of five offences; sentencing was adjourned for reports.
The CPS said it offered no evidence in the light of a ruling preventing it presenting the case in the way it wished.
David Lane QC, defending, said it was only a week before the case came to court that the CPS made a material change in the way it proposed to put its case. The Recorder presiding in court said: "After two years of preparation there was a complete change in the manner of presenting the case which I would not tolerate as fair."
Davies did not have not legal aid and was awarded costs.
Lane stresses that if the case had gone to trial it would have been vigorously defended.
"He denied guilty knowledge in respect of all the counts and the allegations would have been fiercely contested from beginning to end," he says.
Davies says: "This has been going on a very long time and has already cost me more than I want to put a figure on. Today has seen a victory for common sense."