.ancashire hauliers sentenced
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E• Two Lancashire hauliers, said to have been part of a sophisticated ganisation for "ringing" comercial vehicles, have been led by Liverpool Crown tuft.
Eric Thomasson of Lower am Farm, Castle Hill, Hindy admitted handling a stolen edford TK box van, and Scaa 112 artic with its trailer and ad. He was sentenced to nine onths' imprisonment, six onths suspended.
Robert Bruce McNichol of rescent Avenue, Bolton knitted handling the Scania SC) handling a stolen MAN He was sentenced to 15 onths imprisonment, 10 onths of which was susmded.
Prosecuting, Paul Reid said e three vehicles had been olen in different parts of the runtry but all found their way a farm in Wigan. The van as stripped and broken, and ?kg of aluminium from its des were taken to a scrap trd by McNichol. Most of its entifying features were reovecl, including the registraxi plate, the ministry plate id the manufacturer's plate. The Scania, which was caring a load of coal, arrived at ie farm on a Sunday morning. he following Wednesday Thoiasson took the trailer with le of his own tractors and delered the coal to British uels, making out a false deliv:y note purporting to come om Norwest Supplies. The tipping trailer was found by the police at the farm with traces of coal dust in the body. If stripped down, it would have been worth 23,000 in scrap aluminium alone. In the garage the police found the MAN tractor in the process of having its identity changed. Vehicle registration plates were found, some of which were false.
At McNichol's home police found 44 Volvo ignition keys, and blank excise licences and test certificates. When a garage in Famworth was searched, McNichol was taken to secure a ferocious dog at the premises. He took the opportunity of trying to hide stolen excise and licence discs.
The trailer from the MAN artic had never been found, said Reid, and the insurance company paid out 224,000. The Bedford van was estimated by its owners to be worth 26,000. The load of coal was valued at 21,300, and equipment worth 2600 was missing from the Scania when it was recoverd.
For Thomas son, David Binns said Thomasson's part had really been the provision of the premises. He believed the Xregistered box van had been scrapped: he disposed of the load of coal because he had not received rent from McNichol.
For McNichol, Dennis Watson said his haulage business had come to a crisis point last August. He was approached to provide premises to refurbish vehicles.
Sentencing the two defendants, Mr Justice Otton said he was satisfied that they were on the fringe of a large and sophisticated set-up, and had played no part in stealing the vehicles.