False maintenance records lead to large fine for Paul Clark 24 September 2012

Paul Ausden Clark, director of Leicester-based coach company Ausden Clark, has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £17,800, following an investigation by VOSA that revealed falsified maintenance records.

Clark was arrested with the assistance of local police officers on Tuesday 10 July 2012.

VOSA's investigation centred on examining the veracity of the information contained in Ausden Clark's PMI (periodic maintenance inspection) records.

The agency's inspectors found that the odometer readings recorded on the PMI sheets did not correspond with the odometer readings on the tachograph records or fuel log sheets bearing the same date as that on the PMI sheet.

Clark, who appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday 20 September, entered a plea of guilty to 10 counts of making a false instrument with intent that it be accepted as genuine, contrary to Sections 1 and 6 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act, 1981.

In addition, he asked for 64 similar counts to be taken into consideration.

Heather Cruickshank, VOSA's operations director said: "The falsification of these maintenance records may well have compromised the road safety of other road users in the event of a crucial component failure in relation to the brakes, steering and suspension, especially in relation to so many falsifications.

"VOSA is committed to detecting and prosecuting this type of offence, especially by those who are at Director level."

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)

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