Conspirator's ex partner goes solo
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• Bayley Smith, stepdaughter of Wisbech haulier Michael Smith who was jailed in September for his part in a conspiracy to falsify tachograph records, has been granted an ()licence in her own right.
Michael Smith was jailed for nine months; the electronics expert who designed the devices fitted to Smith's lorries was jailed for six months (CM 12-18 September 1996).
For a time Bayley Smith was in partnership with her stepfather. She sought a new international licence for eight vehicles and 10 trailers and was called before Eastern Traffic Commissioner Brigadier Compton Boyd because of concern that her application had been made in anticipation of the partnership licence being revoked, and was simply a device to frustrate that decision.
For Smith, who was currently operating under interim authority Jim Duckworth said that maintenance was now in order, which was an improvement on her stepfather's performance. There were ample funds, she was running the business herself and had negotiated some new contracts, he added. Pointing out that she had taken over the vehicle leases, Duckworth said that Smith no longer lived in the family home and was in sole charge of the business: her stepfather would have no involvement with her business.
Compton Boyd granted a licence for six vehicles and six trailers and said that although he had been suspicious, on balance he judged it to be a genuine application. However, he warned that if Michael Smith was involved in any way, he would revoke the licence and it was highly likely he would disqualify Bayley Smith as well.