TGWU area secretary fined for false hgv statement
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• Mr Henry Patrick Hull, an hgv driving instructor and area secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, was fined £25 before Newton-le-Willows, Lancs, magistrates last week for making a false statement to obtain a Class I hgv driving licence. His former employer, Mr James B. Frodsham, road haulier of Rainford, Lancs, was also fined £25 for signing the application form in which the false statement was made.
Mr Brian Green, prosecuting for the North Western LA, said the charges were made under S192 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, as amended by S19 (1) of the Road Safety Act, 1967, and arose following an application by Hull for an hgv licence without test, which was received on May 22, 1970.
Mr Hull had claimed to have driven heavy goods vehicles of the appropriate type regularly for six months during the 12 months qualifying period, and the form was signed by Frodsham as his employer. A licence was issued on June 30 but was suspended on October 16 after the defendants had been interviewed.
Mr H. Radcliffe, a DoE traffic .examiner, said he interviewed both defendants on October 16 and pointed out that as Mr Frodsham operated only four-wheeled and six-wheeled vehicles and Hull had been in his full-time employment for two and a half years, false statements had been made.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty and Mr Hull said in evidence that he was perfectly competent to drive articulated vehicles as from time to time during the qualifying period he had been loaned out to his employer's uncle, Mr Fred Frodsham, who had an articulated fleet, to help with shunting.
Cross-examined by Mr Green, Hull agreed that after his licence suspension he had applied for a provisional hgv licence and failed his first test. in November, but was successful at the second attempt in December.
Mr J. B. Frodsham said he had signed the form as he knew Hull had been driving artics for his uncle and thought he qualified.
Mr Fred Frodsham told the court Hull had driven for him on the odd occasion but admitted this did not constitute regular driving for a six months' period.
The magistrates turned down a defence submission that there was no case to answer and found the charges proved.