A Swansea scrap merchant which ran more trucks than it was allowed to, didn't put HGVs through safety checks when they were due and had untaxed vehicles seized by DVLA has lost its transport licence.

Traffic Commissioner for Wales, Nick Jones, revoked the licence held by Crofty Point Metals and disqualified the firm and director Cameron Collis for two years.

Jones also banned Robert Collis - who concealed his involvement in the firm - for three years, saying that he ran vehicles in an illegal manner and caused significant road safety concern. Another director, Ainsley Collis, was disqualified for one year.

The industry regulator ruled that Robert Collis had been acting as a shadow director of the firm.

In a written decision issued after a public inquiry earlier this year, Jones said: "The failures identified are serious by any standards. These failures are rendered even more serious as a result of the fact that there has been a fronting exercise, an endeavour to deceive me and keep the controlling mind of the entity holding the operator's licence away from the scrutiny of a Traffic Commissioner".

During the inquiry, Robert Collis claimed that after his licence was revoked in May 2014, a transport consultant had told him that using his son was the quickest way to get a new licence. But the Traffic Commissioner did not accept he was improperly advised by a consultant or solicitor.

The inquiry also heard about the use of a transit van by the business. DVSA examiners and South Wales Police Commercial Vehicle Unit carried out checks on the vehicle and driver. The van had a number of defects, including two tyres worn beyond the legal limit. Police checks revealed that the driver, Cameron Collis, was not insured to drive the van.
 

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