Cleared of deception
Page 18
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• Harrison International Freight Services, of Rufforth, near York has been cleared by magistrates of using a vehicle without an Operator's Licence and of using an international road haulage permit with intent to deceive.
The magistrates ordered that defence costs be paid out of public funds. Police Constable Graham Robinson said he stopped a vehicle belonging to the company in April. He took an international permit issued to Delta International Freight Ltd, of Edenfield. The driver told him that he was returning with a load from Italy and that he was employed by Harrison.
He removed two C:V1R notes, both of which showed Harrison as the carrier, although the note for the return journey showed Delta as the second carrier. Harrison International Freight did not hold an 0-licence: its application for a licence was refused in March 1993.
Questioned by Jonathan Lawton, defending, P C Robinson said that he did not visit or question Delta International Freight. He agreed that it was possible to have a business hiring out vehicles and drivers which did not require an Operator's Licence.
A statement was read to the court from a police officer who interviewed managing director Julie Harrison, in which it was said that she had agreed the vehicle was owned by Harrison International and was being used on the company's business.
Miss Harrison said that the business of Harrison International involved the hiring out of vehicles and drivers and international freight forwarding. She had acquired five vehicles from a former company she had been connected with.
She had retained substantial goodwill from companies with whom she had been in contact with prior to the formation of the present company.
Producing correspondence from Delta International confirming their intention to hire the vehicle and driver, Ass Harrison said the vehicle was being used under that agreement when it was stopped by the police. She believed that Delta International Freight held an Operator's Licence, that the vehicle she had hired to them was specified on that licence, and that the use of the international road haulage permit had been authorised.