Heathcoat tack) case adioumed until April
Page 15
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• A case involving the alledged aiding and abetting of drivers to falsify tachograph records against Stalybridgebased haulage company J & M Heathcote, director Michael Heathcote and transport manager Brian Howard, has been adjourned until April 6.
Duckinfield magistrates will hear 70 charges of aiding and abetting the falsification of charts. The company and Howard are also accused of 87 offences of permitting drivers to exceed the drivers' hours limits while Heathcote is accused of 92 such offences.
Bellrose, a company of which Heathcote is also a director, has admitted four offences of permitting excess hours. The magistrates also adjourned that case until April 6 for witnesses to attend, after statements were read from drivers alleging they had to exceed the hours' limits on pain of dismissal.
For the defence, Aftab Khawar said that Howard had gone to Australia in October on a six months' visa and he was not expected back in this country until the end of March.
Howard was really the key figure, having been Heathcote's transport manager for almost four years. He was responsible for the day-to-day running and it was his duty to check the tachograph charts. He had not done so because he was overworked and denied being aware that the drivers were regularly exceeding the hours limits or doing anything to encourage them to do so.
E At earlier hearings 26 drivers and the associated 'Mameside Skip Hire were ordered to pay fines and costs totalling over £3,500 (CM August 23 and September 12, 1986).