Many Drivers Fined for Dery Frauds
Page 36
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A "CORROSIVE FRAUD" in which In lorry drivers signed invoices for dery they never received, and pocketed 3s. for every fictitious gallon booked, was alleged by Mr. J. M. Johns, prosecuting 23 drivers, at Daventry magistrates court on Monday. The magistrates were told that during the course of the next few weeks 500 drivers from various parts of the country would appear on more than 1,000 charges alleging that they had caused Power Petroleum Co. Ltd. or National Benzoic Co. Ltd. to deliver cheques to Tubby's Café, Lilbourne, Northants, by false pretences.
Mr. Johns said all the frauds occurred during 1962. Tabby's Café was a filling station and cafe, and the offences involved the credit card system.
It was alleged that the drivers ordered dery at 4s. 6d. a gallon and then signed invoices for larger amounts than were delivered. In return they were handed 3s. in cash by someone at the garage for every gallon over-booked. "The garage then had available the over-booked gallon for resale, but at this stage the prosecution do not propose to make any further comments about the activities of those at the garage ", said Mr. Johns. The 23 drivers pleaded guilty and each was fined from £10 to 140 with 3 gns. costs.
On Tuesday 24 drivers pleaded guilty to similar charges. Fines from £10 to £50 with costs were imposed. The fines on the first two days of the hearings totalled more than £1,000.
The first two drivers to appear on Wednesday were fined a total of £186 with costs. One driver, who pleaded guilty to six charges and asked for another 35 similar offences to be taken into account, was said to have signed invoices for an excess of 162 gallons of fuel. The other was said to have told the police: "We all do it. At some places you get a packet of fags. At others you get a few coppers."