
A south London operator suspected of lending his licence out to multiple businesses has been disqualified after the traffic commissioner said it had also wasted the police and DVSA’s time.
TC Sarah Bell said an investigation into sole trader Mark Jones had revealed “a catalogue of nefarious practices, systemic failings and deliberate attempts to avoid investigation and potential enforcement action.”
The operator, who held a licence authorising four HGVs running out of operating centres in Croydon, Beddington and Reigate, was initially found to have links with two other businesses that had either had their licence revoked or had withdrawn their application after the TC intervened.
One of Jones’ lorries was then stopped at the roadside and its driver was found to be driving without a card and the vehicle did not have any VED. Drivers hours offences were also discovered and so a £1,000 fine was issued.
Attempts by the police and the DVSA to interview Jones failed when he did not show up and did not answer phone calls or emails.
He also did not attend a public inquiry before TC Bell, but it went ahead in his absence and after he tried to surrender his licence first.
In her decision, Bell said: “Based on the compliance information available to DVSA there has been operation of vehicles without MOT, without vehicle excise duty paid, without the use of driver cards and when vehicles are in an unroadworthy condition.
“Mr Jones has prevented any meaningful follow-up to assess the extent of the failings or in terms of which entity [or] individuals have actually been operating the vehicles.
“Without wider explanation, I am satisfied that Mr Jones’ request to surrender the licence was just one part of a catalogue of steps taken to prevent uncovering the full extent of mischief happening in the background.”
She said the operator’s unauthorised use of an operating centre in Paddock Wood was a criminal offence and the extent of its avoidance following the roadside encounter meant it was more likely than not Jones was lending his licence out.
“Mr Jones has operated four x 32t vehicles - multi axle lethal weapons - with little or no regard for safety,” she added.
The TC revoked the licence and disqualified the operator for an indeterminate period.