A GAMING company and an employee have been ordered to pay over £4,000 for driving an overloaded van on the region’s roads.

Stephen Ditchburn, 28, of Coach Road Green, Gateshead, was escorted by police to a weight station on September 6 2017, where Durham County Council trading standards officers discovered that the gross weight of the vehicle he was driving was overloaded by 880kgs.

The rear axle was also overloaded by 430kgs.

When Ditchburn was interviewed, he confirmed he was working on behalf of his employer, Grainger Games, and that his employer had at no point instructed him to weigh the vehicle.

The vehicle contained items from a store closure that Grainger Games was undertaking, including, among other things, store fittings and a very large safe.

Appearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court, both Ditchburn and representatives from Grainger Games pleaded guilty to overloading the vehicle.

In mitigation, company representatives claimed that it was unfair to fine Ditchburn personally, as he was driving under orders from Grainger Games.

After it was revealed to the court that Grainger Games has a gross turnover of £48.7million, albeit with an operating loss of £1.3million, magistrates decided to step outside of the sentencing guidelines for these particular offences. They ordered the company to pay fines of £3600, costs of £150 and a victim surcharge amounting to £180.

Mr Ditchburn was ordered to pay a fine of £180, costs of £149.95 and a victim surcharge of £30.

Joanne Waller, head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “Overloading a vehicle is extremely dangerous as it puts a massive strain on tyres, causing them to overheat and wear rapidly – with increased risk of a blowout.

“Overloaded vehicles are also less stable, difficult to steer and take longer to stop.

“By overloading a vehicle you are increasing the chances of it being involved in an accident, with potentially fatal consequences.

“This is why it’s so important that we take action against those who overload and I hope these prosecutions and the financial penalties imposed will serve as a deterrent.”