Three men have been sentenced to a total of nearly nine years at Luton Crown Court after being found guilty of three counts of conspiracy to defraud with one also being convicted of three counts of money laundering.
The sentencing on Friday 24 April follows a major investigation by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and the police into the serious abuse of the Goods Vehicle Operator Licence (O-licence) system. O-licences are required for anyone carrying goods connected with a trade or business on a vehicle on a road with a gross plated weight of more than 3.5 tonnes.
During the two year investigation it was established that Steven O’Sullivan, Anthony Purnell and William Robertson had conspired to illegally sell Goods Vehicle Operator Licences to enable people who were not the holders of their own Operator Licences to operate large goods vehicles throughout the UK. Steven O’Sullivan also engaged in the purchase of companies which held Operator Licences for the sole purpose of servicing this illegal activity.
VOSA Chief Operating Officer Alex Fiddes said:
“This is one of the worst examples of abuse of the O-licence system we have ever seen. This person was motivated purely by financial gain and the severity of the sentence handed out by the Judge highlights just how serious the offence was.
“We are determined to seek out and prosecute those who abuse the operator licensing system. This system exists to ensure the financial and reputational credibility of haulage operators in the UK. It also ensures that those operating goods vehicles on our roads meet the highest safety standards and do not pose a risk to the safety of their workers or other road users.”
The group attracted clients by advertising in reputable trade magazines and persuaded genuine licence holders to allow them to make use of the available margin on their licence in return for payment. All O-licences are non-transferable but, posing as reputable transport
consultants, the group took money from people by persuading them that renting out their licence to the group for use on their commercial vehicles was a lawful activity.
O’Sullivan in particular made substantial financial gains by charging hundreds of people extortionate sums of money for O-licences. He also posed a threat to public safety by enabling people to operate heavy goods vehicles without any of the usual checks being carried out into their practical and financial ability to operate heavy goods vehicles.
The Court heard that at least £2m passed through O’Sullivan’s hands as a result of this fraud and evidence was produced of his lavish lifestyle, funded by the money of those he duped.
