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Gwent drops many charges

26th July 2001, Page 17
26th July 2001
Page 17
Page 17, 26th July 2001 — Gwent drops many charges
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Keywords : Magistrate, Law / Crime

Witney-based ABS Manufacturing was given a conditional discharge for 12 months after admitting permitting drivers' hours offences to occur on three occasions.

The company initially faced 28 charges when it appeared before the East Gwent Magistrates. However, Justin Evans, prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate, withdrew all but three. He said that 21 offences of fairing to use tachographs had been committed before the position of drivers travelling to pick up vehicles had been clarified by the European Court in the Skills Motor Coaches case.

The other seven offences involved permitting two drivers to exceed their driving hours and take Insufficient breaks. Having noted the company's procedures, Evans was satisfied that it had not permitted four offences by one of the drivers.

The company pleaded guilty to the remaining three charges of permitting Paul Kent to exceed his driving hours and to take insufficient breaks.

For the company, Chris Butterfield said: ''Once it was clear from the first few Infringements that they had such a rotten apple In the barrel as this particular driver, then the company should have done more than just send his charts away in a monthly batch," said Butterfield. "They should have checked his charts more closely, perhaps on a daily basis." However, he said that the company had not consciously allowed Kent to break the rules.

East Gwent Magistrates also ordered the company to pay 1150 prosecution costs.

Tags

Organisations: European Court
Locations: Witney

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