FIT AND PROPER
MANCHESTER CABBIE SAID HE’D HAD HAIR TRANSPLANT AFTER CAUGHT USING BALD BROTHER’S LICENCE
A cabbie told police he’d ‘had a hair transplant’ after he was caught using his bald brother’s licence. Mohammed Abid Ali, 32, who boasts a full head of hair, was challenged over a photo-card which showed an apparently older and bald man, a court heard. He had been driving down Oxford Road, Manchester when he was stopped by police and council licensing officers. Ali told them that he’d been using hair regrowth products and had undergone a horsehair transplant
operation. But checks revealed that Ali had his licence
re-
voked by a council panel the previous month. Manchester magistrates ordered the cabbie to pay nearly £1,000 in fines, costs, and a victim surcharge after he pleaded guilty to driving a hackney carriage without a licence or insurance.
Ali, from Manchester, said after his court appearance he had been banned from driving after clocking up 12 points on his licence. He said: “I took my brother’s licence out with me but he’s a bit older than me. They didn’t allow me to plead any mitigating circum- stances when they banned me. I need to earn, that’s why I did it.” Cllr Kate Chappell from Manchester council said: “This case should serve as a warning to all unlicensed taxi drivers, our officers are out on the street.”
READING PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER MUST PAY £2,900 FOR ILLEGALLY PLYING FOR HIRE
A private hire driver has been slapped with a substantial fine after being caught operating illegally in Reading town centre. Saleem Raza, 63, from Reading, was caught illegally offering a ride without a prior booking in a council sting operation. He has now been hit with a fine and costs totalling £2,900 and eight points on his driving licence.
In the early hours after a busy Saturday night, Mr Raza was parked in West Street outside a takeaway, an area known to licensing officers for drivers illegally plying for hire. Mr Raza was approached by a licensing officer and agreed to take them to Tilehurst for £15 without the required prior booking.
COLCHESTER FIRM FIVE SEVENS TAXIS FINED £220 BY MAGISTRATES
A taxi firm has been ordered to pay more than £400 in costs for keeping a vehicle which does not meet insurance requirements. Five
Sevens Taxis faced the
accusation after the charge was reported by the DVLA. Magistrates in Swansea consid-
44
ered the case on Monday 15 April. Five Sevens was not represented at the hearing, and magistrates proved the charge in the firm’s absence. Magistrates imposed a £220 fine on the taxi firm and ordered a further payment of £188 in costs.
After a court hearing, he was fined £1,000 for the offence of plying for hire. He was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,500 and a victim surcharge of £400. Mr Raza was dealt the penalty points, fines and costs at a hearing at Reading Magistrates Court on Thursday, April 4. Consumer protection group manager at the council, Rob Abell, said: “Public safety and confidence to use regulated and licensed taxis is of paramount importance. “Unlicensed drivers who undermine that trust will be robustly dealt with to maintain public confidence and ensure safety in our nighttime economy. “The Council Licensing Team worked tirelessly to bring this complex case to court, and I am delighted the District Judge recognised the importance of it.”
MAY 2024 PHTM
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