Unlicensed driver changed route
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• Police and traffic examiners gave chase when a tipper was seen attempting to avoid an organised HGV check by turning off the road. When stopped, it was found that the driver had never held a driving licence of any sort, said John Heaton, prosecuting for the DOT, at Manchester City magistrates.
The driver's employer, Robert Horrocks, trading as D&J Metals, of Stalybridge, pleaded guilty to permitting an unqualified driver to drive the vehicle, permitting him to drive when uninsured, using the vehicle without an 0-licence and using it when the tachograph had not been inspected during the preceding two years. Manchester City magistrates fined Horrocks £200 with £50 costs. The hearing of charges against driver Brian Newberry, who failed to attend, were adjourned until later in the month.
Heaton said Horrocks had not made any proper check to see if Newberry was qualified to drive. The fact that he wasn't rendered the vehicle's insurance void.
Horrocks said he had asked Newberry for his licence but he never produced it. He knew Newberry had been driving skip vehicles, attics and low-loaders, as he had seen him do so. Every penny he had earned from the
wagon had been lost because of the accidents that Newberry haz: with it. He had sent for forms to apply for an 0-licence but he had heard nothing further.
The wagon had been booked in for the tachograph calibration to be checked.