Fire leads to jail for Chorley driver
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
SETTING EIRE to tachograph charts to prevent them being used against him has led to a Lancashire 'lorry driver being sent to prison for three weeks.
William Matthews of Eaves Green, Chorley, admitted at Preston Crown Court to attem p ring to pervert the course of justice.
The court was told that a traffic examiner had visited Mr Matthews's employers, NV_ C. Lawson Transport of Adlington, to examine tachograph charts as part of a routine check.
Charts belonging to Mr Matthews revealed a number of drivers hours offences.
During the course of the interview at Mr Matthews's home, the traffic examiner pointed out the offences on the charts to Mr Matthews; his reaction was to snatch the charts from the traffic examiner and order him out of the house.
The traffic examiner reported what had happened to the police, and when they arrived at Mr Matthews's home, he said he had burnt the charts because he knew they would be used against Sentencing Mr Matthews to 21 days in prison, Judge Lockett said it had been a stupid and criminal act to destroy potential evidence in that way. He directed that a charge of arson against Mr Matthews be left on file and not proceeded with without the leave or the court.