Lorry driver using two tachographs escapes jail 'by skin of teeth'
A lorry driver who used two tachographs so he could do a full day's work then drive home to his family has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Anthony Mooney, 34, of Glebelands, Shawbury, had escaped an immediate prison sentence by the skin of his teeth, Judge Stephen Thomas said at Shrewsbury Crown Court.
Mooney admitted 16 charges of wrongly using a tachograph, charges brought by the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency.
The court was told that Mooney claimed that his tachograph was faulty, and when a replacement arrived he did not send the original one back.
He went on to use both devices on 16 occasions between July 2017 and January 2018.
"This enabled him to exceed the 10 working hours a day limit for drivers," Miss Helen Newbould, prosecuting, said.
"The limit is set to protect the driver and other road users from the danger of the driver becoming careless or dropping off to sleep," she said.
Miss Olivia Macinn, for Mooney, said that her client only used the two tachographs so he could return home to his children and not to make any money.
He had lost his job and lost his HGV licence for five years.
Judge Jones said he felt able to suspend the sentence because the law had not been broken for financial gain.
"You also desisted before you were found out because you realised the seriousness of what you were doing."
Mooney was jailed for six months, suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.
