
The director of a Leicester-based company, responsible for providing medical certificates for HGV drivers in the UK, has been found guilty of fraud.
Andrew Eburne, 51, from Hinkley, is set to be sentenced in June at Swansea Crown Court, after recently being found guilty of operating a fraudulent business - Doctors on Wheels Ltd.
The successful prosecution against Mr Eburne followed a year's-long investigation by Swansea Council Trading Standards which took on the case following concerns raised by the DVLA.
Doctors on Wheels Ltd was used by existing HGV licence holders, as well as those applying for a HGV licence, to complete a D4 medical certificate as part of the HGV licence application process required by the DVLA. The D4 determines that the applicant is medically safe to operate heavy goods vehicles.
The medical exams were carried out in mobile units, located around the UK. A case was made against Mr Eburne along with five other defendants who worked for Doctors on Wheels Ltd. All five were found not guilty during the same proceedings.
Investigations by Trading Standards, which included officers presenting themselves as HGV licence applicants, uncovered major concerns over the signing off of the D4 certificate by unqualified individuals who were working for Doctors on Wheels.
The company is thought to have processed thousands of D4 medical certificates which were then used as part of the HGV application.
Although Mr Eburne pleaded guilty to the charges, he was found guilty by a jury and will now return to Swansea in June for sentencing.
Rhys Harries, Swansea Council Trading Standards Team Leader, said: "We're pleased with the outcome of the case.
"This has been a very long investigation which required a lot of time and effort by our own Trading Standards officers, as well as staff at the DVLA.
"When the DVLA raised their concerns about the company, we needed to look in depth at their operation and establish if medical certificates were being issued by unqualified staff.
"We were able to show in court that D4 medical certificates were submitted to the DVLA with the intention of them being issued as part of a HGV licence application.
"Fortunately, due to the expertise shown by the DVLA in spotting these anomalies, along with our own investigation, we prevented this becoming a much more serious issue."

A Croatian company named Verne has launched what it claims is Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service, beginning a phased rollout in the city of Zagreb.

The driver appeared before a council sub-committee after collecting nine points on his license, including two offenses caught by the same controversial camera in Newton Abbot just four days apart.

It happened on Dubarry Avenue, at around 12:10am on Sunday 29 March.

If the plan is approved, Edinburgh will climb from the 19th to the 13th most expensive city for taxis in the UK, putting it on par with Glasgow.

Muhammad Nasir, 40, had logged off his booking system - meaning he was not legally allowed to take passengers - when he targeted the 20-year-old victim outside a city centre nightclub.

The local authority acted after residents reported that some drivers were adding surcharges - often around 10 per cent or more - to the final bill.

Bilal Khan, from Dalton, appeared before Kirklees Magistrates’ Court where he admitted to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The proposal, set for a vote on Tuesday, May 12, comes after Middle East conflicts pushed petrol prices up by more than 17 per cent and diesel by a staggering 42 per cent since 2024.

The company behind the move, LA Trading, is seeking permission to install the devices on the driver’s side of the internal safety barriers, a service it already provides in cities such as Manchester and Brighton.

Naheed Ejaz, 61, used a "conspiracy of silence" to protect 41-year-old Diwan Khan, a chauffeur in her family taxi business, while police were at her door.

While new fares have boosted the cost of starting a journey and added surcharges for luggage, the Manx Taxi Federation warns that drivers are still losing money.

Annette’s Cars, known throughout the community for its iconic ‘878787’ phone number, will pick up its last passengers on Sunday, May 10.

Under the new proposals, the age limit for eight-seater vehicles and WAVs would be extended from 10 to 15 years, while age limits for electric and hydrogen vehicles could be scrapped.

The violence has escalated to terrifying levels, including a recent incident in Tunstall where armed police were called after a pellet gun was fired at a taxi in a supermarket car park.

Gemma Phoenix, 44, admitted to abusing her position at Hull Cars Ltd in a betrayal that left the company's owner "devastated" and forced him to sell his life's work.

A small North Yorkshire restaurant has become the centre of a national debate after top media figures and a local MP lined up to attack a council’s decision to ban free lifts for diners.

The Liberal Democrat and Independent coalition must choose whether to keep the current six separate taxi zones or create one massive countywide licensing area, following government advice.

Cameron Sinclair was a teenager at the time of the attack, which took place in November 2024 after he had been part of a large wedding party travelling back from Edinburgh.

Fareham Borough Council has approved three private hire driver applications following a licensing panel review, including one from a driver with multiple speeding convictions.

According to a survey of 2,000, 82% of people consider taxi drivers essential to their local communities, acting as a reliable safety net when public transport fails or emergencies strike.
