Wright released early to stop business collapse
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• Haulage contractor John Wright has been freed from prison by the Criminal Appeal Court in London, so he can try and save his business from collapse.
Thirty-year-old Wright, of Mill Farm, Heck near Goole, was jailed by Wakefield Crown Court hi July after pleading guilty to handling Volvo tractor parts stolen from Batley-based Consolidated Bulk Liquid Transport, and 318 litres of stolen diesel fuel, Wright's counsel, David Wilby, asked the appeal court to release him so he can return home, save his business and support his family.
Wilby added that Wright's business was "on the verge of collapse and bankruptcy. The next eight weeks or so are crucial. He would have an opportunity to turn it around.
"He owes something like 00,000," said Wilby, 'and 05,000 on lorries. He used to have eight lorries and five drivers. Now he has four lorries and four drivers."
Justice Garland said there was still some prospect of the business being rescued if Wright was allowed to attend to it and he suspended that part of his nine-month sentence that remains to be served so he could be released.
Wright had lost a major customer and debts included £18,000 in VAT and PAYE, said Justice Garland.
Wright had paid £1,200 for the stolen Volvo parts which were valued at .i7,400.