Licence bid fails over partner's conviction
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• A bid for a new two-vehicle licence by Burchett Removals, of Herne Bay has been refused by South Eastern & Metropolitan LA Brigadier Michael Turner because one of the part ners, Stephen Burchett. has a conviction for handling stolen vehicle parts.
Alan, Frank and Stephen Burchett, trading as Burchett Removals, of Avenue Road, Herne Bay, had applied for a new national licence with an operating centre at Port Farm, Island Road, Upstreet The LA heard that the stolen vehicle parts were found when police searched Stephen Burchett's premises. He was convicted of handling at Maidstone Crown Court and sentenced to 100 hours' community service.
Turner said that he was extremely concerned that the offence involved property within the transport industry. Stolen trucks were a matter of great concern in the industry Burchett said that he had allowed a friend to store a vehi cle in his yard so that repairs could be carried out. His friend later arrived with a fork-lift truck and removed the cab, leaving the remainder of the vehicle in his yard. However, he was advised
by his barrister Stolen trucks were to plead guilty
a matter of great . For the firm,
Jim Ditckworth
concern in the said that the
offence had been
in a one-off. Burchett had previously held an 0-licence without any problems.
Holding that Stephen Burchett was not of good repute, Turner said that the conviction fell within the definition of a "serious offence" in the regulations.