FIT AND PROPER
UNLICENSED CARMARTHENSHIRE DRIVER FINED OVER £2,600 FOR TAKING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL
A PH driver has been fined after transporting school children on five separate occasions without the proper licence. David Rhydian Thomas, connected to Windy Corner Coaches in Carmarthen- shire, used a licensed PHV to take pupils to school over a a week last
October. However, Mr Thomas did not hold the necessary HC/PH Dual Driver’s Licence. This was not his first warning. After pleading guilty by post, Mr Thomas was ordered to pay a total of £2,694, which included a £666 fine, a £266 victim surcharge, and
£1,762 in court costs. Local officials stressed that licensing rules exist strictly to keep vulnerable passengers safe. Cllr Owen, Carmarthenshire Council’s cabinet member for enforcement, stated: “The safety of children and the public is our absolute priority.”
ASHFORD BC’S DECISION UPHELD TO REVOKE PH DRIVER’S LICENCE AFTER MOBILE PHONE USAGE
Ashford BC’s decision to revoke the licence of a PH driver caught using a handheld mobile phone while driving on the M25 has been upheld by Folkestone Magistrates’ Court. In November 2025, Surrey Police submitted a report to the council concerning Mehmet Kaygun, who was seen driving while using a mobile phone for a prolonged
period. Officers also noted additional distraction from an electronic tablet device. The council determined this conduct raised serious public safety concerns and that Mr Kaygun was no longer a fit and proper person. His PH licence was immediately revoked. Kaygun appealed, and while the
court acknowledged the personal impact of the licence revocation, it confirmed the decision must be based solely on public safety and not an individual’s personal circumstances in line with existing case law. The appeal was dismissed, and Mr Kaygun was ordered to pay £2,000 towards the council’s costs.
DURHAM UNLICENSED CABBIE FINED AFTER USING UNINSURED VEHICLE FOR SCHOOL RUN
A County Durham cabbie has been fined after illegally using an unlicensed and uninsured vehicle to transport school children. Keith Lambton, 53, of Chester-le- Street, was contracted by Durham County Council to drive up to five children, aged 11 to 16, to and from school. However, council enforce- ment officers caught Lambton picking up the pupils in a car without a valid taxi licence. Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard that Lambton knew the vehicle was unlicensed. He claimed his regular taxi had broken down and he used
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the alternative car to fulfill his council contract, noting he had already applied for its licence. Although ordered to leave the scene immediately, CCTV checks later revealed Lambton had used the exact same unlicensed car the previous day.
Furthermore, his
insurance provider confirmed he was entirely uninsured for com- mercial collections in that vehicle. During a formal interview, Lambton confessed to the breaches, stating he “realised this was a mistake, but that it was his first in all his years as a licensed driver.”
Durham County Council strongly condemned his actions. Owen Cleugh, the council’s safer places manager, said: “We carry
out
enforcement of our home to school contracts to ensure that the drivers and vehicles are correctly licensed as we take the safety of our children and the travelling public very seriously.” He hoped the case demonstrated that they would “take swift action.” Lambton was fined £280 and ordered to pay £288 in costs and an £80 surcharge, totalling £568. He also received six penalty points.
JULY 2026 PHTM
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