Taxi operator sentenced for forging safety certificates on school transport vehicles
- Perry Richardson
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
A former taxi operator has been sentenced after admitting to forging safety certificates for wheelchair-accessible vehicles used in school transport contracts.
Peter Roland Banwell, 62, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on 8 April 2025. He pleaded guilty to fraud by misrepresentation, relating to falsified documents covering vehicle lifting equipment inspections.
Banwell was a director of Banwell Buses Ltd, trading as Beeline Taxis, which held school transport contracts with Caerphilly County Borough Council. Fourteen of these contracts required vehicles fitted with lifting equipment for wheelchair users.
Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, lifting equipment must pass a formal safety check every six months. Operators are required to provide valid certification to the council to confirm compliance.
On 24 May 2024, Banwell Buses submitted nine certificates to the council. These were flagged as potentially fraudulent because they were dated 15 December 2024 — nearly seven months in advance.
Further examination confirmed the documents were fake. In total, 26 fraudulent certificates were identified, including some dated from 2023. As a result, nine vehicles were suspended from service by the council and found to have multiple defects. Two were judged to be unsafe for use.
Despite lacking proper certification, Banwell Buses Ltd continued servicing the school transport contracts and received £253,550 in payments during the period of the offences.
Banwell admitted responsibility for producing the false certificates and stepped down from his role at the company. He was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. The company received a £12,000 fine.
Banwell also now faces action under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Councillor Philippa Leonard said: "Mr Banwell's use of unsafe vehicles showed a clear disregard for child safety, resulting in fraud against the council. This prosecution sends a strong message that we will not tolerate fraud and remain committed to protecting passengers and upholding operational integrity.
“In sentencing His Honour Judge Khan, in acknowledging BANWELL’s previous good character, admonished him for his “stupidity”, telling him he was “dishonest”, had “lost his good character” and looks to “lose financially” due to Proceeds of Crime proceedings.”
