Leyland tachograph fraudster must pay £225,000 following a financial probe
A fraudster who conspired with a Leyland man to manipulate lorry tachograph systems made £225,642.09 from his crimes, a court has ruled.
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.
Benjamin Hayton, 43, of Cumberland Avenue, Leyland, helped to design the illegal devices with Stephen Young, 55 of Goldthorn Ave, Wolverhampton, and fitted them for around £1,500 each, after their co-defendant Darren Millington, 52 of Hinstock, Shropshire, sourced them.
Hayton fitted at least one device to a vehicle belonging to the company S Bamford International Ltd of Preston.
During the investigation the DVSA discovered that two drivers for S Bamford International had falsely recorded rest periods more than 630 times in three months, allowing them to drive their vehicles for long periods without taking the legally required breaks or daily rest periods.
The fraud first came to light when DVSA traffic examiners stopped a lorry near the M6 in Lancashire and found that the tachograph was illegally modified.
All three were previously convicted of conspiracy to falsify drivers’ records on March 11, 2019 after a five week trial.
During a further hearing before Preston’s Sessions House Court, Judge Simon Newell found Millington had benefitted by £225,642.09 by his crimes and made an order for him to pay back that amount.
Hayton will find out his financial fate on a date still to be set, while Young’s hearing has been set for December 17.
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