MD 41

Welsh haulier Mansel Davies has pleaded guilty to 19 counts of forgery and counterfeiting maintenance documents for HGVs.

Additional charges against MD Stephen Mansel Davies have been dropped.

The case, heard at Swansea Crown Court last month, relates to charges that were brought against Stephen Mansel Davies and employee Jonathan Wyn Phillips at a hearing in June.

Mansel Davies was accused of 19 offences of making false periodic maintenance inspection sheets for vehicles between 1 October 2017 and 14 February 2018. Phillips, of Mynachlogddu, faced 34 similar allegations.

Prosecuting barrister Lee Reynolds said that an investigation into the records of Mansel Davies was triggered after one of its vehicles was stopped by a DVSA enforcement officer.

At Swansea Crown Court, Phillips pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was granted unconditional bail and will stand trial in January 2020.

The company will be sentenced in February 2020.

DVSA director of enforcement Marian Kitson said: “DVSA’s priority is to protect everyone from unsafe drivers and vehicles. Falsifying maintenance records puts lives at risk, operators must adhere to the commitment they made to their O-licence.

This criminal prosecution shows the DVSA will not hesitate to tackle operators to ensure UK roads are safe.”

Mansel Davies is part of the Mansel Davies and Son Group, which includes Mansel Davies Garages and Pembrokeshire Freight. The family firm, which is based in Llanfyrnach, Pembrokeshire, employs approximately 300 staff and has an O-licence for 234 trucks and 214 trailers.

It specialises in the agricultural sector and is the largest milk haulier in Wales. The company also offers animal feed and bulk lime spreading services.

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