Director who ‘hated lorries’ disqualified
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By Roger Brown
TELFORD-based haulier DKH Traction has had its O-licence revoked and its director disqualified after her husband was jailed for stealing fuel cards from a rival haulage business.
At a public inquiry (PI) in Birmingham on 5 May, Nick Jones, West Midlands Traffic Commissioner (TC), said listed director Anita Hewlett had “allowed her rogue husband” , Derek Hawkes, to be the “true operator” of DKH. Hawkes is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for stealing fuel cards from a rival operator, which caused it to lose £72,000.
The PI also heard how Hawkes and Hewlett had instructed their son to burn tachographs that could provide evidence about drivers’ hours infringements.
In an interview with a police officer, Hawkes admitted drivers at DKH had worked 12to 13-hour days. Hewlett also admitted to police in an interview that she had a “very little role” in the business and “hated lorries” .
TC Jones told the hearing he believed Hawkes had been the operator of DKH “in all but name” .
He added: “This is a rogue business run by an individual using his wife’s name. I cannot disqualify Derek Hawkes but, if I had the power to do so, I would have disqualified him indefinitely.
“However, I can and do disqualify his wife Anita Hewlett, who has colluded in destruction of evidence [tachographs] and has played no proper role as an operator. She has allowed her rogue husband to run a dishonest business.” The TC ordered that Hawkes attend a hearing when he leaves prison so that the TC can consider his fitness to hold a driving licence.
TC Jones also held that DKH Traction transport manager Richard Bulman had lost his repute.