John Goff – No Licence 1946

The Newark Herald, Saturday January 12th 1946 – Page 5

No Driving Licence

AN UNUSUAL CASE

At the Newark County Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, Alan Guy Weatherhead, of Cromwell pleaded guilty to employing an unlicensed lorry driver and to a second charge of permitting the use of a lorry, the driver of which was not insured against third party risks. John Goff, Carlton-on-Trent, the lorry driver, was summoned for driving without a licence and for driving a motor lorry when not insured. He pleaded not guilty. Supt. Burley said that at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11th, P.C. Anderson was on duty at Carlton-on-Trent when he saw Goff driving a lorry owned by Weatherhead. He asked him if he had a driving licence, and he replied: “No, I sent for one last night, I have not had one previously.” Later the constable saw Weatherhead who said: “Yes, he is learning to drive. I sent him to Newark for a licence form and told him to send for a licence.” Weatherhead also produced a log book showing that Goff had driven the lorry under Weatherhead’s instructions the previous day. Goff was uninsured as he had no licence. P.C. Anderson gave evidence supporting Supt. Burley’s statement. Weatherhead told the Court that he was sent this man as a driver by the Ministry of Labour, but when he arrived on the Monday he discovered that Goff had no driving licence, neither had he driven a motor vehicle before, with the exception of a tractor. He therefore sent a fully qualified and licensed driver to accompany him and teach him to drive. When they came back from work on the Monday he sent them to Newark to get an application form for a licence to drive a motor vehicle. This Goff did get, filled it in and sent it off the same night from Carlton-on-Trent with 5s. On the following day, Tuesday the 11th, witness decided to send him out again, accompanied by the licensed driver, and he presumed it was in order for Goff to take the wheel as his application for a licence was in the post. There was no intention on his part of evading the regulations. The qualified driver had a licence and was in charge of the vehicle. As regarded the certificate of insurance this was in order, and as a licensed driver was in charge of the vehicle he presumed all was in order. The Chairman said the Bench considered this was a proper case to bring, but under the circumstances they were going to dismiss it on payment of costs. There had been a technical breach of the regulations, but they did not think it was done intentionally. The costs were 8s. each. On the Bench were Major H. C. Wray, D.S.O. (Chairman), Col. T. L. C. Curtis, and Coun. O. Essame.

Principal Individuals:

  • Alan Guy Weatherhead: Employer, resident of Cromwell. Pleaded guilty to employing an unlicensed driver and permitting the use of an uninsured lorry. He stated he was sent the driver by the Ministry of Labour.
  • John Goff: Lorry driver, resident of Carlton-on-Trent. Summoned for driving without a licence and driving uninsured. Pleaded not guilty. Had previously only driven a tractor.

Associated Individuals:

  • Supt. Burley: Police Superintendent who presented the case details to the court.
  • P.C. Anderson: Police Constable on duty at Carlton-on-Trent on Tuesday, Dec. 11th, who stopped Goff.
  • Major H. C. Wray, D.S.O.: Chairman of the Bench at Newark County Magistrates’ Court.
  • Col. T. L. C. Curtis: Magistrate on the Bench.
  • Coun. O. Essame: Magistrate on the Bench.