Owner-driver jailed for using red diesel
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• An uwneL-LInver paid a high price for using illegal red diesel when he was jailed for six months at Bradford Crown Court last week.
Geoffrey Naylor, 65, the owner of Fridge Freight of Huddersfield, admitted evading nearly £28,000 worth of duty.
Prosecutor Andrew Haslam said red diesel was found in one of the firm's vehicles when it was stopped by customs officers in Bradford. The lorry's fuel tank was in two sections, with a large tank containing the red diesel—the smaller tank held standard diesel. When interviewed by the customs officers the driver admitted the larger tank was hidden in a bid to avoid detection.
But Nicholas Askins. representing Naylor, said the tanks had been split to stop thieves siphoning off fuel. He said Naylor. of Burn Road. Birchencliffe, Huddersfield, had evaded duty because his company was in financial trouble.
Red diesel has a zero VAT rating and can only be used in Britain and the EU for specified purposes, such as agricultural equipment.