A lorry driver has been jailed for nine months after checks on his tachograph equipment revealed he had travelled more than 700 kilometres without any record being kept.

Michael Wilson, who was working for Heckmondwike-based Bysel Limited, drove as far as Llandudno in North Wales and Workington in Cumbria. But for hours at a time the equipment designed to regulate his driving hours and rest periods was not operating.

Prosecutor Christopher Dunn reveal-ed that on one day in September 2001 the 48-year-old HGV driver had 218km unaccounted for on his tachograph.

Wilson, who also uses the name David White, pleaded guilty to nine charges of falsifying tachograph records during September and October 2001. Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that he had a catalogue of previous convictions dating back to the 1960s.

Mr Dunn said Wilson, of Brooklyn Road, Cleckheaton, had a total of 26 convictions covering 77 offences, including driving while disqualified and dishonesty matters. When Wilson was questioned about the tachograph matters he claimed that he had only opened up the equipment to check his mileage and had then closed it again.

His barrister John Dunning said the offences were committed at a time when the company was placing demands on its drivers which were difficult to comply with and still meet the tachograph requirements. He said Wilson had debts in the region of £7,000 and was committing the offences in order to maintain his employment.

But Recorder Andrew Kershaw highlighted the fact that Wilson had been fined by magistrates for further offences of driving excessive hours following the matters before him. "It was in order to cover up offences of that nature that you falsified the tachograph records in the offences for which you have to be dealt with by me," he said.

"The reasons why these offences are so serious deserve to be stated. Firstly, it is a question of road safety. You're supposed to be a professional driver, conveying a heavy load with a powerful vehicle on crowded roads and motorways. So often one hears of driver fatigue being the cause of extremely serious accidents. You have been extremely fortunate and so have other people using the road."

He said such offences also put pressure on honest hauliers and drivers who were trying to compete.