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Oliver's planning ishambolie
Page 16
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For the past six weeks operator Stuart Oliver has been in court to answer tacho charges. He denies knowledge of his drivers' dishonesty. Mike Jewell reports.
TROUBLED NORTHUMBRIAN tin and Marion Oliver, have all life at the time of the offences. operator Stuart Oliver has admitpleaded not guilty to conspiring Oliver repeatedly denied being ted that transport planning at his together and with 70 drivers to aware of the tacho falsification firm was "a shambles" when drivmake false entries in drivers' — he also claimed to have no ers were falsifying tacho charts records (CM 29 April). knowledge of a box of documents there on a massive scale. In July 2002 10 of the firm's relating to the case which was later
But he claimed not to have been drivers were jailed for two months recovered by investigators from aware of the offences until they after they admitted falsifying underneath the office floor. were interviewed by police and tachograph records. A further He said the planning system traffic examiners. 15 were ordered to do up to 240 at the time seemed adequate but
This is the sixth week ofthe case at hours' community service after with hindsight it was clearly a Newcastle Crown Court against the they were sent to the Crown Court shambles. three partners of Haltwistle-based for sentence. Seven other drivers Mark Laprell, prosecuting, WilliamMartin Oliver & Partners. were fined a total of £4,850 by the asked: "Is your judgement so The partners, Stuart and his magistrates for similar offences. poor that what you judged to be mother and father, William MarStuart Oliver said the first time 'ample' then, can be seen in hind
TROUBLED NORTHUMBRIAN tin and Marion Oliver, have all life at the time of the offences. operator Stuart Oliver has admitpleaded not guilty to conspiring Oliver repeatedly denied being ted that transport planning at his together and with 70 drivers to aware of the tacho falsification firm was "a shambles" when drivmake false entries in drivers' — he also claimed to have no ers were falsifying tacho charts records (CM 29 April). knowledge of a box of documents there on a massive scale. In July 2002 10 of the firm's relating to the case which was later
But he claimed not to have been drivers were jailed for two months recovered by investigators from aware of the offences until they after they admitted falsifying underneath the office floor. were interviewed by police and tachograph records. A further He said the planning system traffic examiners. 15 were ordered to do up to 240 at the time seemed adequate but
This is the sixth week ofthe case at hours' community service after with hindsight it was clearly a Newcastle Crown Court against the they were sent to the Crown Court shambles. three partners of Haltwistle-based for sentence. Seven other drivers Mark Laprell, prosecuting, WilliamMartin Oliver & Partners. were fined a total of £4,850 by the asked: "Is your judgement so The partners, Stuart and his magistrates for similar offences. poor that what you judged to be mother and father, William MarStuart Oliver said the first time 'ample' then, can be seen in hind
he suspected that sight as a 'shambles'?"
the investigation was "That seems right,"Oliver replied.
about falsification "You're not that incompetent was when the drivers are you? You're not that stupid?" started being interLaprell asked — Oliver continued viewed. Nothing had to deny any dishonesty. put him on notice that He agreed that the two biggest the drivers might be outgoings for a haulage business falsifying records, he were fuel and wages and that neiadded — outside analyther had been monitored at the sis was only revealing time, despite the fact that the busi minor infringements. ness was turning over about £6m Additionally, the with a profit margin of 14-16% (the court heard, there average is much closer to 3%) were various distracHe also accepted that the traftions with his personal fic clerks had been giving out
TROUBLED NORTHUMBRIAN tin and Marion Oliver, have all life at the time of the offences. operator Stuart Oliver has admitpleaded not guilty to conspiring Oliver repeatedly denied being ted that transport planning at his together and with 70 drivers to aware of the tacho falsification firm was "a shambles" when drivmake false entries in drivers' — he also claimed to have no ers were falsifying tacho charts records (CM 29 April). knowledge of a box of documents there on a massive scale. In July 2002 10 of the firm's relating to the case which was later
But he claimed not to have been drivers were jailed for two months recovered by investigators from aware of the offences until they after they admitted falsifying underneath the office floor. were interviewed by police and tachograph records. A further He said the planning system traffic examiners. 15 were ordered to do up to 240 at the time seemed adequate but
This is the sixth week ofthe case at hours' community service after with hindsight it was clearly a Newcastle Crown Court against the they were sent to the Crown Court shambles. three partners of Haltwistle-based for sentence. Seven other drivers Mark Laprell, prosecuting, WilliamMartin Oliver & Partners. were fined a total of £4,850 by the asked: "Is your judgement so The partners, Stuart and his magistrates for similar offences. poor that what you judged to be mother and father, William MarStuart Oliver said the first time 'ample' then, can be seen in hind
he suspected that sight as a 'shambles'?"
the investigation was "That seems right,"Oliver replied.
about falsification "You're not that incompetent was when the drivers are you? You're not that stupid?" started being interLaprell asked — Oliver continued viewed. Nothing had to deny any dishonesty. put him on notice that He agreed that the two biggest the drivers might be outgoings for a haulage business falsifying records, he were fuel and wages and that neiadded — outside analyther had been monitored at the sis was only revealing time, despite the fact that the busi minor infringements. ness was turning over about £6m Additionally, the with a profit margin of 14-16% (the court heard, there average is much closer to 3%) were various distracHe also accepted that the traftions with his personal fic clerks had been giving out
work that could not be completed legally, although did not believe that 850 false charts in four months reflected the way the firm had been operating. Oliver maintained that the then traffic co-ordinator Harry Scott had lied when he had alleged: • Hours did not count at the firm • The °livers got the job done no matter what • They had both been falsifying charts when they worked as drivers • He had had a tacho switch fitted in the cab of his vehicle • New vehicles coming on line
had had such switches fitted.
Oliver also denied any knowledge of two timesheets which came over by fax which the police and VOSA raid on the firm was taking place which showed excessive hours were still being worked 20 months into the investigation.
He denied any knowledge of documents found in the drawers of the desk he was said to use which showed excessive hours and which had been matched up with tracker information.
The trial continues.