Secret tank convictions
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• When two haulage contractors were charged at Leicester City magistrates' court with using duty-free domestic fuel for running their vehicles, it was stated that secret tanks had been fitted to the vehicles so that one tank contained dery and the other dutyfree gas oil.
John Thomas Williamson, of The Caravan Site, St Saviour's Road, Coalville, Leics. was fined £100 and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years.
Derek Mark Hollis, of Fackley Road, Teversal. Sutton-in-Ashfield, whose lorry was inspected on the same day as Williamson's. was also fined £100. Both men pleaded guilty.
In Williamson's case it was alleged that two fuel tanks were found to have been welded together after suspicion had been aroused in a Customs and Excise check which showed dery fuel to be very dirty. It was then discovered that the lorry was running on an extra tank containing gas oil. Williamson was alleged to have admitted that he had been running the lorry on gas oil for about seven months, using between 2200 and 2400 gallons. It was stated that he had previous convictions for warehouse breaking, larceny. shop breaking and taking away a car.
In the case of Hollis, it was stated that an extra tank had been fitted to take gas oil and connections had been altered so that the lorry could be run on derv, gas oil or a mixture of the two. He said he had used about 500 gallons of gas oil. Williamson had to pay 1100 to Customs and Excise to get his vehicle back and Hollis had to pay them MO.