Revocation for absentee Utley
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• The twovehicle licence of Bradford-based Howard Utley, one of whose vehicles was involved in a fatal accident, was revoked when he failed to appear at disciplinary proceedings before North Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority John Hampton.
Vehicle examiner David Howram said that he had examined the vehicle involved in the fatal accident in June 1989 at the roadside, and had issued it with a prohibition notice for 21 serious defects. Five sets of roadwheels were found to be insecure. Both Utley's vehicles were examined during a maintenance investigation in September, and both were issued with immediate prohibitions. Utley had stated that the maintenance contractor had been changed and that the vehicles were being inspected at intervals of six weeks.
There were no facilities at the operating centre, which was Utley's home, said Howram. No inspection records could be produced for one of the vehicles. In his opinion, there was a total absence of any planned maintenance system. Utley had told him that the consequences of the accident had bankrupted him.
In reply to the DLA, Howram said the vehicle had been turning right when a stolen motor cycle collided with it. The vehicle was stationary at the time. Revoking the licence, Hampton said it was a bad case and he was satisfied that revocation was the only course open to him.