Statements 'amended' by Plaistow director
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• "Anyone who knows Davis has not got a chance of obtaining a licence." This was said by Mr H. Brown on Tuesday when giving evidence for his company, Plaistow Transport Ltd, at its appearance before the Metropolitan LA under Section 69. The company had been called because of alleged false statements given in evidence by Mr Brown at the time of Plaistow's application for 12 vehicles and 11 trailers in January this year. Connections with Mr Sammy Davis and Larrow Transport (Northern) Ltd has been denied in January when Mr Brown replied to questions put to him by the LA, Mr D. I. R. Muir.
Mr Brown and Mr R. J. Hatton, who also figured in previous hearings (CM July 30), represented the company themselves although they had been legally represented before. Mr Muir strongly advised them to obtain legal representation in case evidence at this hearing should be referred to in any later criminal proceedings under Section 235 of the Road Traffic Act. It was decidee by Mr Brown to continue with his evidence.
Mr V. Smith, a traffic examiner, gave r: resume of his evidence at the July hearing Part of this referred to 17 roadside check: which had been made between June 196.C. and January 1971. Several of Plaistow': drivers, when stopped had referred to theii employer as Larrow Transport or Mt Sammy Davis.
In evidence Mr Brown said he wished to "amend" statements made during the January application hearing. He said that he did know Sammy Davis but he had been afraid that any connection would prejudice his licence application. He had driven for Larrow and had also driven for Davis Brothers for nine months. Asked by the LA why he had not given this information at the previous inquiries, Mr Brown replied that he had never been asked to do so.
Mr Brown said that he did not know that Mr A. Berkshire, who looked after maintenance for Plaistow vehicles, had been the director of Larrow. Mr Berkshire was still looking after Plaistow vehicles on a part-time basis between visits to Newcastle.
Answering questions about his acquisition of Plaistow in 1969, Mr Brown said he had not looked at the accounts and had not realized that it had no money. He was unaware that it had an overdraft of nearly £4000.
In support of Mr Brown, Mr Hatton said that when he sold the company to Mr , Brown he had transferred all liabilities to his own private account, so ensuring that Plaistow was not in debt at the time of sale.
Mr Muir said at the conclusion of the evidence that a decision with reasons, whether to revoke, curtail or suspend the licence, would be given in writing. If it was thought that the relationship with Mr Davis had not been one of business this would be satisfactory. The situation would, however, be different if it was found that the business was being managed for, or by, Mr Davis.
In 1968, continued Mr Muir. he had refused an application by Larrow Transport (Northern) Ltd because at the time a satisfactory case had not been made for the need of the vehicles and also because of the conduct of Mr Davis. Therefore, said Mr Muir. he was concerned with any company with which Mr Davis was dssociated.