Leyland man made more than £500,000 through plot to fit illegal devices to HGVs

Two men who conspired to manipulate HGV tachographs have had some of their ill gotten gains seized by the courts.
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Benjamin Hayton, 43 of Cumberland Avenue, Leyland, and Stephen Young, 55 of Goldthorn Ave, Wolverhampton, were convicted of a conspiracy to falsify drivers’ records on March 11, 2019 after a four year probe and a five week trial.

They were later jailed with a third co-defendant for a total of nine years.

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The men produced, supplied and fitted sophisticated tachograph interrupter devices to heavy goods vehicles, allowing lorry drivers to avoid taking breaks and to drive for longer than was legal, endangering the public.

Crown CourtCrown Court
Crown Court

Young designed them, and Hayton helped design them and fitted them for up to £1,500 each, including one at a Preston haulage firm.

The fraud first came to light when DVSA Traffic Examiners stopped a lorry near the M6 in Lancashire and found the tachograph safety device had been illegally modified.

At a Preston Crown Court hearing Hayton, who was called an "important cog" by Judge Simon Newell, was found to have benefitted from his crimes to the tune of £552,671.52.

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He made an order for the full amount to be seized after the court heard the prosecution considered the money as "hidden assets" and Hayton, who did not attend court, is now understood to be living and working in Africa.

Prosecuting, Jacob Dyer said it hasn't been possible to identify where the payments went because they didn't go through his bank account.

Judge Simon Newell gave him three months to pay or face a further five years in prison in default, and also ordered him to pay a contribution of £31,740 towards costs.

Young appeared by a video link with his barrister.

He was found to have benefited by £52,566.54 and has realisable assets of £55,900.50, made up of equity in his property and vehicles.

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He must pay back £52,566.54 within three months or face a further nine months in jail.

Darren Millington, 52 of Hinstock, Shropshire, who sourced the devices, was previously ordered to pay back the £225,642.09 he made.

As many as one in six crashes resulting in death or injury on major roads are fatigue-related.

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