Disgraced Shropshire boss Stephen Holding banned from running truck firms
One driver working for disgraced haulage boss Stephen Holding worked for 72 hours straight without a proper break, it was revealed today.
The 49-year-old from Telford was jailed for eight months in January after an investigation revealed drivers at two firms he ran, SP Holding Services and SP Holding Tractor Hire, were working dangerously long hours.
Records were falsified to cover it up, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told, and it led to Holding gaining a "very significant commercial advantage" over his rivals.
The business boss, who has since been released from prison, has been banned from running truck firms indefinitely following a ruling by the Government's traffic commissioner released today.
In one case, driver Michael Ridgway worked for 72 hours without a sufficient break. In total 10 drivers admitted tachograph charges at Telford Magistrates Court.
In his report commissioner Nick Jones said: "In my judgment Stephen Holding is an intelligent and articulate individual who is not to be trusted.
"This is not a description of an isolated incident, it is of wholesale criminality and describes how Stephen Holding's greed led to a train of events that included the ruin of businesses and of many people's lives.
"I am acutely conscious of the very significant commercial advantage that he had in his unlawful activities. There are many fine operators that did not obtain lucrative contracts due to Stephen Holding's activities.
"The lack of regard to the safety of drivers and the general public on the road network beggars belief. The scope and scale of the offending is such that it is fortunate indeed that no-one was killed as a result of the sustained driving while obviously tired."
The father-of-two built his two companies from nothing to employing nearly 200 members of staff at their height.
But behind closed doors he "aided and abetted" his drivers to falsify records of their hours of work and rest periods, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.
The two businesses formerly run by Holding went into administration in July this year, Mr Jones said in his report.
In conclusion, the commissioner said: "I make an order for an indefinite personal disqualification in respect of Stephen Holding.
"He can never be trusted to be involved in any compliant operator licensing system."
