TC Denton found that the operation was a front for an unlicenced driver
Tonbridge-based James Trevor Ford was disqualified indefinitely after his one-vehicle restricted licence was revoked by Traffic Commissioner (TC) Nick Denton for lending it to an unlicensed operator.
Mr Ford, trading as Prestige Part Buses, of Horsmonden, Tonbridge, failed to attend a Birmingham Public Inquiry.
The TC said that following the grant of the licence, Mr Ford did not attend the new operator seminar hosted by the DVSA. As a result maintenance investigations were carried out in November and December 2016, which showed that no safety inspections had been carried out between June and November 2016. The vehicle was declared 'off the road’ on the 5 August 2016, but records showed it had completed 430 miles between the 5 August 2016-3 November 2016.
In reality the vehicle was being operated by Ray Harvey, at whose residential address the vehicle was kept. Mr Harvey had applied for a restricted licence in February 2015 but withdrew it in March 2015, when it was pointed out to him that the main occupation rule would prevent him from holding a restricted licence.
The vehicle was sold in November 2016. As the licence was in effect 'lent' it allowed Mr Harvey to circumvent the O-Licensing system. The Traffic Office received an email from Mr Ford stating that the licence had been surrendered, but he could not explain why the disc had not been returned.
It was clear that the operation in the name of Mr Ford was a front for the operation by Mr Harvey. He could find no evidence of surrender. It was also clear that Mr Ford was not the true operator.
