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Haulier forced to gas stowaway

21st December 2000
Page 8
Page 8, 21st December 2000 — Haulier forced to gas stowaway
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II A West Yorkshire haulier resorted to using CS spray to fight off a knife-wielding stowaway near Calais, Steeton-based haulier John Bird had stopped to buy some water about two miles from the port when a fellow driver spotted three Albanians lurking near the back of his Renault Magnum,

'Another driver told me he'd seen three immigrants near my truck so I went out and saw them pulling the plastic covering down," says Bird, who has operated as John Transport for the past 11years.

"A big fellow was climbing into the trailer, so I pulled him away. That's when he pulled the knife. I told him I didn't want trouble, but he was threatening me.

"I made for my cab. I keep a can of CS spray in the door for protection, so as I climbed the ladder to the cab I turned round and sprayed him full in the face—then I made a quick exit," he adds.

Officials later removed 15 stowaways from his trailer, including two families with small children.

Bird says many drivers would rather be fined for exceeding hours than risk heavy on-the-spot fines for being caught with stowaways. "I was looking at Ones of £30,000," he adds. it's getting worse and worse. It happens almost every time you stop; in service areas, parking areas, anywhere. I now have a baby alarm hooked up to the trailer so I can hear them talking if they're in the back."

Mike Freeman, head of the Road Haulage Association's International Operations Department, warns that violent attacks on hauliers abroad are becoming more frequent.


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