No stickler for maintenance
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• Cardiff-based Gareth Stickler was banned from holding an 0licence for 10 ye,arsafter he failed to appear at a Cardiff disciplinary inquiry at which his licence was revoked with effect from midnight the same day.
Stickler held a licence authorising the operation of two vehicles from a base in Hurman Street, Cardiff.
South Wales LA John Mervyn Pugh said that when Stickler was granted a five-year licence in 1990 he undertook to have his vehicle maintained every six weeks.
When the vehicle was stopped in a roadside check in March, six significant defects were discovered. The handbrake lever was detached, making the handbrake inoperative. The driver's seat was insecure. Two of the tyres were found to be devoid of tread and worn to the canvas and a third tyre was coming off at the wheel rim. When the vehicle was jacked up all the wheels could be turned by hand when the brakes were applied.
The vehicle examiner's report stated that the laden vehicle was in an extremely dangerous condition when stopped, said Mervyn
All the wheels could be turned by hand when the brakes were applied
Pugh. It had not been maintained, MoT tested or taxed since April 1992. The garage which had undertaken the maintenance was still owed 12,000 despite a county court action.
Revoking the licence, and disqualifying Stickler, the LA said he did not usually take such action in the absence of the operator. However, this case was so serious that in the interests of public safety he found it necessary to revoke the licence with immediate effect and disqualify Stickler from holding or obtaining a licence for a considerable period of time.