Three men convicted of “industrial scale” tachograph manipulation have been jailed for a total of nine years at Preston Crown Court.

Darren Millington of Hinstock, Shrops and Stephen Young of  Goldthorn Ave, Wolverhampton were convicted of conspiracy to falsify drivers’ records and money laundering following a five-week trial.

A third defendant, Benjamin Hayton of Cumberland Avenue, Leyland, Lancs was convicted on two counts of conspiracy to falsify drivers’ records.

Convictions were secured following a lengthy and complex investigation by the DVSA and Lancashire Police.

The enforcement agency said the men produced, supplied and fitted tachograph interrupter devices to HGVs, enabling drivers to avoid taking breaks and drive for longer than was legal.

The fraud was first uncovered when traffic examiners stopped a lorry near the M6 in Lancashire and found its tacho had been tampered with.

Following an intelligence-led investigation and execution of search warrants, evidence was found linking Millington, Young and Hayton to the crime.

The court heard that Millington was procurer of the devices, Young designed them and Hayton helped design and fitted them for up to £1,500 each.

The DVSA said Hayton fitted at least one device to a vehicle belonging to S Bamford International and during the investigation DVSA discovered that two drivers for S Bamford International had falsely recorded rest periods more than 630 times in three months.

In August 2018, the two Bamford drivers pleaded guilty to knowingly recording false data on recording equipment and were each given suspended prison terms and community orders.

At separate public inquiries, S Bamford lost its operator’s licence and the drivers lost their vocational driving licences.

Hayton failed to appear at court for the trial and a warrant for his arrest was granted. He was tried and convicted in absentia.

Marian Kitson, DVSA enforcement director said: “Drivers’ hours rules exist to protect everyone from tired drivers. These criminals sought to deliberately undermine those rules for their own gain.

“They put profit above safety and they had no qualms about putting the public in danger.”

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