Former soldier sentenced for tacho fraud

A tacho-fiddling lorry driver has been given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and a 150-hour Community Service Order. Stephen Cope, of Crewe, had been sent for sentence to Chester Crown Court by the City's Magistrates after he had pleaded guilty to 15 offences of knowingly falsifying tacho records.

Prosecuting for VOSA, Paul O'Brien said that on 27 February 2008, a 17-tonne vehicle belonging to Michael Smith, trading as Amic Haulage, of Crewe, and driven by the defendant, was stopped in a check.

Analysis of Cope's charts by a traffic examiner revealed several discrepancies. Cope admitted they were not true and accurate records. He told the traffic examiner that he had wanted to get home early so that he could carry out extra work the following day and earn more money.

Tacho charts for November 2007 to February 2008 were obtained from Cope's employer. These showed that Cope had been removing the chart from the tachograph head, and, on some occasions, he had taken the chart out on the motorway. The amount of unrecorded distance over the three-month period was 1,500km.

There had been no sophistication in the falsifications, said O'Brien, although a cursory glance would not have revealed them. When interviewed, Cope admitted he had not taken sufficient breaks. Asked about a chart dated 5 November 2007 on which 152km were missing, he had said it was probably a two-day job, but he had delivered the goods in one day and decided to return to base. He had not been asked to falsify tachograph records by his employer – it was all his own doing.

For Cope, Jonathan Blagby said he had been discharged from the army after more than 23 years exemplary service. He had worked for Michael Smith for five years and had been disciplined by his employer for the offences.

Passing sentence, Judge Roger Dutton said the legislation must be complied with, and Cope had been a potential great danger to other road users.

It was obvious there had been a huge temptation to cut corners to get home and take on other duties which otherwise would have been impossible. Cope had an impressive army record, having served with distinction, and it was very sad he should have let himself down in this way. He ordered Cope to pay £750 towards the costs of the prosecution.

Personal circumstances taken into account

The judge took account of the fact custody would have an impact on others. Cope was in a steady relationship and was paying £300 a month maintenance for a child living with a former partner.