Somerset County Herald & Taunton Courier Saturday 25 Oct 1947
Page 5 Column 5
Bishop's Hull Youth's Inexperience
Six Offences on His First Trip
A 17-year old labourer, Derek LITTLEJOHNS, of 18, Smithy Cottages, Bishop's Hull, was fined a total of £5 10s and ordered to pay 5s costs at Taunton on Saturday for six offences committed when he drove a 15 cwt. truck on the highway without the owner's permission. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
It was stated that LITTLEJOHNS was employed by a contractor at the Ministry of Supply Depot. at Norton Fitzwarren. He had no permission to drive vehicles, but on August 30th he took a truck on to the highway at Norton and came into collision with a car driven by Mr. Wilfred James WHITE, of Hamilton-road, Taunton.
TRYING TO HELP
LITTLEJOHNS pleaded guilty to taking and driving the truck without the owner's consent, having no insurance, no driving licence, failing to report an accident, using a general trade licence, and having no Road Fund Licence.
P.C.
GREGORY said LITTLEJOHNS told him that petrol had to be taken to a
depot extension. There was no driver available and he was trying to
help his firm. He gave a false name after the accident because he
was frightened. He had never driven on the highway before.
The
Chairman, Mr. A. C. MOLE, told LITTLEJOHNS: “You seem to have
looked upon this as a light thing. It is much more serious than you
appear to think.”