Express & Star

Kingswinford scrap metal firm hit with £4k court bill after tampering with machinery

Published
Last updated

A scrap metal firm has been handed a court bill of more than £4,000 after admitting tampering with a weighing machine at the business in Kingswinford. more

Bosses at R Davies Metals & Sons had never had their weighing equipment properly calibrated, which is illegal, Dudley Council said.

They were also caught with a device attached to the weigh bridge which falsified the readings, meaning they could adjust the value of loads specified to customers.

The firm were caught during a routine inspection to the site in Oak Lane, by the council's trading standards officers in July last year.

During the investigation officers also viewed CCTV coverage of the site which showed them producing paperwork for goods weighed, when in fact there was nothing on the weigh bridge.

Renney Davies Julie Davies, Danny Davies and Adam Davies, all from the company, pleaded guilty to having unverified equipment at Dudley Magistrates' Court on March 5.

Adam Davies who was seen using the device on CCTV coverage also pleaded guilty to the offence of using false or unjust equipment in addition to committing fraud by using of the equipment.

Magistrates fined the company, together with the directors, £3,000 and ordered them to pay £1,400 costs.

Councillor Rachel Harris, cabinet member responsible for trading standards, said:

"Our trading standards officers do everything they can to protect people from fraud and work closely with companies to ensure they uphold the law.

"However, where fraudulent activities are taking place we have no option but to prosecute and I hope this case sends out a clear message to any dishonest firm."