Corruption charges —6 fined
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SIX MEN were fined a total of £10,000 by an Old Bailey judge last week after admitting corruption charges involving road haulage firms.
Judge Edward Clarke, QC, said : "There have been six of you—and there may be others —who for the purposes of carrying on business, have indulged in dishonest practices by handing over money for your own advancement.
"That sort of behaviour is something which is not only deprecated, but has to be stopped."
In the dock were : Terence Webb, 33, of Aldred Road, Kilburn ; Keith Walder, 27, of .Steeplehall, Pitsea, Essex; Barry Flexen, 33, company director, of Chestnut Avenue, Buckhurst Hill, Essex ; David Smith, 28, transport manager, of Judeth Gardens, Gravesend ; Thomas Flexen, 55, company director, of Carlton Road, South Park, South Godstone, Surrey ; and David Flexen, 27, of White Gables, East Grinstead, Sussex.
Webb and Walder were each given fines totalling £3,000, and ordered to pay up to £1,000 each towards defence costs.
The remaining four were given fines totalling £1,000 each, and ordered to pay up to £500 each towards defence costs.
All the fines carry three months prison sentences in default. Webb and Walder had admitted conspiring to defraud White Oak Transport Services, and five charges of corruptly accepting a total of £1,537.
Barry Flexen and Smith admitted two charges of corruptly giving Webb and Walder rewards totalling £750, and Thomas and David Flexen admitted two charges of corruptly giving the men rewards totalling £777.
Mr Henry Pownall, prosecuting, had told the court that Webb and Walder—Barkingbased White Oaks' European traffic and shipping managers —took " kick-backs " to pass inflated and phoney sub-contractors' invoice sheets. They also took payments for passing out to subcontractors work which the firm could have done itself.
Barry Flexen was director of Sea Road Services (Europe) Ltd, based at Grays Thurrock, Smith was his transport manager, and Thomas and David Flexen—Barry Flexen's father and brother—were directors of Containermasters Ltd, of Bermondsey.