Fraudster loses buses appeal

GARY STEVENSON

A ROYTON man jailed for a theft related offence has been told he can't drive buses or coaches professionally by the region's deputy traffic commissioner.

Gary Stevenson (57), of Blackshaw Lane, applied to renew his entitlement to drive public service vehicles but industry regulator Miles Dorrington refused to give him a professional licence.

The decision follows a conduct hearing on June 14.

The hearing was called to consider Mr Stevenson's conviction after he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court in June, 2015.

Between 2011 and 2013, Gary and Carol Stevenson took a total of £45,956 from an elderly neighbour by fraudulently cashing cheques, withdrawing cash from his bank account and obtaining a credit card in his name.

The court heard that the life savings were spent on everything from household luxuries to clothes and presents.

Sustained

The victim, widower Edward Brain (83), was said to have been "devastated" when he learned from police what had been going on, and died brokenhearted five months later.

Carol Stevenson was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to three counts of fraud, and her husband pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of criminal property.

At the conduct hearing, Mr Stevenson told the deputy commissioner he wanted to go back to driving buses because it was a job he enjoyed.

He said he accepted the crime was sustained over a long period of time and added that he was sorry for what he had done.

Refusing his application, the regulator said there was no realistic prospect of Mr Stevenson getting his licence back, without any further convictions being recorded, for at least a year.

He added: "I have refused this application because a serious crime of dishonesty was sustained over a long period of time."