Trial awaits appeal
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• Sheffield Magistrates have postponed the trials of 32 drivers employed by Newell & Wright who are accused of drivers hours and tachograph offences.
They are awaiting the result of a High Court appeal against an earlier decision that the drivers' trials should take place on a date before a Crown Court case involving the firm's two principals and seven other drivers.
The seven are alleged to have committed a large number of offences involving the falsification of tachograph charts; and Francis Ronald Newell and Paul Nicholas Wright are accused of aiding and abetting the seven drivers.
Committal proceedings are scheduled for the end of July. However, one driver's case was heard: George Laxton, of Chesterfield, pleaded guilty to failing to enter the places of starting and finishing on the centrefield of a tachograph chart.
Prosecuting, Heather Smith said that police had mounted a large scale investigation into Newell & Wright Transport. They seized large numbers of tacho charts, some of which related to Laxton.
Defending, Michael Wascow said that the drivers and their employers faced a range of charges, including a large number of chart falsifications. Laxton was right on the periphery with one comparatively trivial matter; the explanation of his offence was simple forgetfulness.
The magistrates gave Laxton a 12-month conditional discharge with £30 costs.