Cleared on dangerous parts
Page 16
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• A director of
Okt Middlesbrough
based Group Vale has been cleared of using a semi trailer with dangerous parts. Les Harriman pleaded not guilty before the Hereford Magistrates to using the trailer with loose wheelnuts and defective brake lights, side lights and rear indicator.
The court heard that in May a DOT vehicle examiner examined one of the company's artics in a check at Ross on Wye. Seven of the 10 wheelnuts on the offside third axle of the semi-trailer were very loose and the lights were defective.
When interviewed by police, Harriman had agreed that Group Vale was his company Defending, Gary Hodgson argued that Harriman, as a director of the company, was neither the user nor the owner of the semi-trailer so there was no case to answer.
Dismissing the charges, the magistrates ordered that defence costs be met out of public funds.