'Small fry' was tempted
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• Haulage contractor Mr Arthur Pickles, who was said by his solicitor to be "very small fry. was fined more than £1000 by Preston magistrates on May 19. Mr Pickles, of Blackburn Road, Higher Wheelton, near Chorley, pleaded guilty to three charges of dealing with diesel fuel on which duty had not been paid and he was fined £337.50 on each offence.
Peter Obrusik, of St Annes Road, Blackpool, pleaded not guilty to one similar charge involving 1000 gallons of fuel, but he was convicted and fined £450.
Mr M. Steel, prosecuting, said the pattern in the offences was the same and the fuel had come from a bonded installation. Pickles had received three deliveries of 750 gallons, for which he had paid sums varying from 3s 6d a gallon to slightly more.
He alleged that Obrusik had paid £210 for his delivery of 1000 gallons.
The amount of duty was 4s 6d per gallon.
Mr David Thomasson, for Pickles, said he was very small fry in the set-up and when he was offered oil at 3s 6d he fell for the temptation. Obrusik said he paid about 4s 6d a gallon and he was assured there was nothing wrong with the fuel.
"How could an ordinary man expect that quantity of oil to pass under the nose of the Customs and Excise. It never entered my head that duty had not been paid," he said.
Obrusik said the garage which he.was then operating in Clifton Road, Blackpool,, had been sold.