A pair of bogus transport consultants have been convicted after fraudulently making thousands of pounds by applying for HGV O-licences with forged documents. John Plummeridge, 48, was sentenced to four years in prison at a hearing at Southend Crown Court on December 3 after being found guilty of 15 counts of obtaining pecuniary advantage.
Philip Cameron, 62, was found guilty of three counts and handed a 51-week suspended sentence. Plummeridge and Cameron had set themselves up as consultants, providing advice and technical expertise to haulage firms wanting licences. The fraudulent licence applications included situations where:
- A person approached them and asked for their help in obtaining a licence thinking it was genuine
- Plummeridge and Cameron applied for a licence using a person's genuine name but that person had no knowledge of the licence ever being issued in their name
- According to police, the name and details on the licence were
entirely fictitious.
In February 2006, the Metropolitan Police, in conjunction with Vosa, began its Operation Cluedo investigation, after concerns were raised that the holders of several O-licences relating to enquiries into road traffic incidents involving HGVs, could not be traced.
At about the same time, the South East Traffic Commissioner was raising concerns about the nature of some HGV O-licence applications coming before him.
In April 2006, police raided five addresses in London and the Home Counties and seized large amounts of paperwork and computer equipment, which tied the pair to numerous licences.
Detective Superintendent Glyn Jones from the Traffic OCU says: "These men abused a system put in place to ensure everyone's safety with such a degree of arrogance that they believed they would never be caught."
Alex Fiddes, Vosa chief operating officer, adds: "I am very pleased with the results of this joint investigation. 
It sends out a clear message that we will target and catch those who abuse the operator licencing system."