Man Sentenced for Stealing Church Forklift Truck

No amount of forklift truck training in the world could have prepared a Lancashire church for what happened when they agreed to sell their forklift to a local man. According to the Lancashire Evening Post, Longton Community Church agreed to sell the forklift to Patrick Reilly for £800 last June. However, after Reilly loaded the forklift, he drove away without paying for it.

The church immediately reported the theft and Reilly was charged sometime later. Charges included both theft and obstructing a police officer. However, the charges were dropped by Ormskirk Magistrates’ Court in exchange for a guilty plea for handling stolen material. Reilly was ordered to pay £100 in restitution and £60 to cover Longton’s court costs, as well as serve 40 hours community service.

According to a church spokesperson, the forklift sale was designed to raise money for a church ministry known as Inside Out. The ministry helps with practical needs in the community, including providing furniture and clearing gardens. There has been no word as to whether or not the forklift has been sold to another party.

Forklift Training in the UK

We bring you this story as a gateway to introduce you to the idea of forklift training in the UK. The law currently does not require licensing or certification to work as a professional forklift operator, but certification is still a good idea nonetheless. Receiving forklift truck training gives you a leg up when searching for jobs because employers appreciate seeing a valid certificate from a company like the HGV Training Centre.

If you are considering a career as a forklift operator, you need to be aware that more and more companies are hesitant about hiring drivers that do not have proper training. A certificate tells potential employers that you have taken the time to learn how operate a forklift truck efficiently and safely. It also shows that you are fully competent to do the job expected of you.

At the HGV Training Centre, we offer forklift truck training that meets or exceeds all industry standards. Our training focuses on a number of things:

• Safety – Driving a forklift on a congested warehouse floor is inherently unsafe due to the presence of co-workers and other obstacles. We teach drivers how to be safe in the presence of both pedestrians and other vehicles.

• Manoeuvring – Manoeuvring a forklift truck in and around tight spaces can be challenging, especially when fully loaded. The HGV Training Centre teaches students effective strategies for safe manoeuvring, regardless of the space involved.

• Smooth Operation – There is an art to operating the fork controls of a forklift truck smoothly. When controls are not smooth, operators increase the risk of accidents. We teach our students the skills necessary to avoid such accidents.

New forklift truck training classes are forming at the HGV Training Centre all the time. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are ready to begin your training.

Sources:

1. Lancashire Evening Post – https://www.lep.co.uk/news/church-s-forklift-was-stolen-1-6379153