Repute intact after jail term
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by Fiona Jewell • A haulier has condemned a decision by North Western LA Martin Albu after directors convicted of theft-related offences walked away from an inquiry in front of Albu with their good repute intact. Albu said the men were "well thought of in the industry".
Albert Baggaley and Edwin Hunter are directors of LC Transport, based in Platt Bridge Park, Wigan. Last October they were convicted of conspiring to steal fuel from their employer, Stoke on Trentbased Maurice Nield (Transport), and to defraud by dishonestly creating false invoices.
Maurice Nield Transport depot manager Keith Harrison says Albu's decision "makes a mockery of the licensing system". Harrison says Maurice Nield Transport should have been represented at the public inquiry to give its version of the events which led to Baggaley and Hunter's conviction.
Ian Whalley, for LC Transport, told the public inquiry that Baggaley was managing director of Maurice Nield Transport with a 40% shareholding in the firm. His former wife was the daughter of Maurice Nield, the firm's founder. Baggaley wanted to start a contract which his then wife and father-in-law did not want to pursue so he formed LC Transport with Hunter. They borrowed 17,500 litres of diesel from Maurice Nield Transport. Whalley said the pair had always intended to pay it back. At the time of the prosecution all but 6,000 litres had been paid back, said Whalley. But as they had borrowed the fuel without the permission of the owner, Baggaley and Hunter pleaded guilty at Bolton Crown Court.
Both men were sentenced to nine months in prison, which was reduced to four on appeal.
Baggaley said Maurice Nield Transport decided to close its Wigan depot where Hunter worked. Baggaley felt that Hunter could have been moved to the company's base at Stoke and suggested that Hunter get his own vehicle and he would act as his transport manager.
The pair applied for a licence and bought a vehicle. Baggaley then took the decision to lend Maurice Nield's fuel to Hunter on the understanding that it would be paid back.
Baggaley said they applied to change the licence to a limited company and, as the Crown Prosecution Service had said it might not proceed with the prosecution, they did not declare it on their application form.