Operation Octopus
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Chris Hallsworth prosecuted for VOSA in the case known as Operation Octopus, the biggest single case VOSA has undertaken.
In 2009 three men were jailed for nearly nine years when they appeared at Luton Crown Court. Steven O’Sullivan, Anthony Purnell and William Robertson had conspired to sell O-licences to hauliers without their own licences to enable them to run HGVs throughout the UK. O-Sullivan bought companies holding O-licences for the sole purpose of servicing this illegal activity.
VOSA chief operating officer Alex Fiddes called it: “One of the worst examples of abuse of the O-licence system we have ever seen.” O’Sullivan charged hundreds of people extortionate sums for O-licences, posing a threat to road safety because they had not been subject to the usual checks. At least £2m passed through his hands, and the court was told he had a lavish lifestyle.