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Former getaway driver bids for 0-licence
Page 27
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AN 0-LICENCE application by a former drug dealer, who had once driven a getaway car in an armed robbery is being considered by Beverley Bell, the North Western Traffic Commissioner.
The TC will provide a written decision on the application by Wigan-based Thomas Pownall, trading as Quick Skips, for a new two-vehicle restricted licence. In October 1999, he was given a 10-year prison sentence at Bolton Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin.
In 1982 he was given a sevenyear prison sentence for being the driver of a vehicle involved in an armed robbery Pownall said he had done everything he had been asked to and was granted parole; eventually being released from prison in December 2003.
He had set up Quick Skips about eight months ago after disposing of car wash and car valeting firms.
He was using a 1.5-tonne vehicle and had two larger ones he could not drive without an 0-licence. Asked why the convictions had not been mentioned on his form, Pownall said he was told they were spent. He also admitted he had been a drug dealer, but said he wasn't like that anymore.
He was also asked why the maintenance records showed the two larger vehicles had travelled 2,813km and 842km. Pownall explained that he had been using them to learn to drive HGVs.
He initially denied they had been used for the business, but when pressed, Pownall admitted he had operated one of the vehicles for a short period since he had not realised he was flouting the law until VOSA stopped him.