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Bus bosses jailed after death

11/ 7/2008

TWO bosses of GM buses and UK North based in Gorton have been jailed for lying to an inquiry set up after a man was killed in an accident involving one of their buses.

Managing director Vincenzo Casale and transport manager David Ellis were both jailed for 15 months on Friday after pleading guilty to conspiring to create false documents.

An inquiry by the Traffic Commissioner was launched after a 27-year-old sign worker was knocked out of his cherry picker crane after being struck by a double decker bus.

Martin Pilling was thrown out of the crane and under the wheels of the bus in December 2006.

After the incident the bus company was ordered to take its fleet off the road over safety fears and as a consequence the company went bust.

Manchester Crown Court heard how the pair presented a web of lies to the inquiry over the number of hours their drivers worked.

They provided fake spreadsheets and deleted databases in a bid to cover their tracks.

But despite their efforts investigators found that the Polish driver involved in the collision which killed Mr Pilling had been working for 19 consecutive days - six more than the legal limit.

They also uncovered that one driver had been working for 31 days without a 24-hour break and that many drivers were going without training.

Sentencing the pair Judge Martin Steiger, QC, said they should bear 'moral responsibility' for Mr Pilling's death and he described their dishonesty as 'extremely serious'.

Casale, 44, from Glossop was banned from becoming a company director for 10 years and Ellis, 37 from Dukinfield has received the same ban but for five years.

Sergeant Alan Johnson, of GMP's traffic section, said: "This investigation has highlighted the unscrupulous working practices of these directors.

"They had a total disregard for working conditions, allowing many of their drivers to work for days and days with a period of rest."

Mr Pilling's parents, Tony and Diane were in court and welcomed the sentence.

Tony said: "This company was run for profit and greed. Martin would still be alive if they had operated within the legal guidelines.

"They have only shown remorse in a clear bid to obtain a lighter sentence. They have never apologised in the 19 months since Martin's death."