Bid rejected for convictions The company, of Heath Hayes, Staffordshire,
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had applied for a new international licence authorising the operation of four vehicles and two trailers. The application was opposed by Staffordshire Police.
After the Commissioner pointed out that the convictions against director Peter Barke had not been disclosed in the application form, Barke said that he was a "silent partner". His son had filled in the application form and his family had not known about the convictions.
PC David Dawson, traffic intelligence officer with Staffordshire Police, said that Barke had been cleared of three alleged offences of obtaining property by decep tion at Stafford Crown Court in March 1996, but was convicted of two offences of intimidating witnesses.
Barke said he had been inadvertently involved in a fraud committed by tenants.
He had reported a witness for working while claiming benefit, and that was how the convictions had come about.
Refusing the company's application, Mervyn Pugh said he concluded that Barke did not meet the requirement to be of good repute.