Though admitting that a ticket machine was kept in the office of Penygroes-based Express Motors, Eric Wyn Jones, who is one of four family members standing trial for concessionary fare fraud at Caernarfon Crown Court, denied that it was used to illegally swipe concessionary fare cards.
He claimed that the machine was kept for training purposes.
The ticket machines issued to his firm were second hand and were unreliable, requiring frequent repairs. When one machine arrived back at the Penygroes depot, a piece of paper "a yard long" revealed the machine had issued 5m tickets, he said.
Eric Wyn Jones and his three sons – Ian, Keith and Kevin – pleaded not guilty to conspiring together and with others unknown to commit fraud by false representation. They also pleaded not guilty to conspiring to hide, conceal, convert and disguise criminal property [routeone/Court Report/12, 19 and 26 September].
Ian Wyn Jones, who was responsible for banking the company's cash, admitted stealing money from the business. He told the jury that he had been taking money for more than 20 years and none of his family knew.
Denying that he knew about the concessionary fare fraud, he said that that he was unaware of excessive swiping of bus passes. He was shocked to hear of the practice and claimed drivers were responsible.
Kevin Wyn Jones said that cash payments made into his bank account came from driving football supporters to matches. Fans would pay £15 a head and Express Motors would get paid for the coach and he would keep the rest, plus the £20-25 tips he received.
He would organise "booze bus" trips. Charging £15 a head, he would pay for the diesel and keep the rest for himself. None of that was declared to the tax authorities because he did not know how.
The jury was considering its verdicts at the time routeone went to press.
