Taxi driver made 543 trips after licence revoked

An unlicensed private hire driver who carried out 543 journeys has been ordered to pay £1,557.

Abdul Musaher, of Bruce Street, Scunthorpe, pleaded guilty at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court to driving a private hire vehicle after his licence had been revoked.

He was fined £648 for driving without insurance and told to pay charges of £909 at the hearing on 18 March.

He was also given eight points on his driving licence – taking his total to 17 – but was spared a ban due to exceptional circumstances.

North Lincolnshire Council said Musaher had been licensed until 2021.

Licensing officers began an investigation after they were contacted by South Yorkshire Police for help identifying the driver of a vehicle that had triggered a speed camera on the M1.

They found evidence of the number of journeys Musaher made as an unlicensed private hire driver.

Councillor Carl Sherwood, the council’s cabinet member for licensing, said unlicensed private hire drivers left people “at risk through uninsured journeys” and broke “trust and confidence in responsible businesses”.

He added:

“This irresponsible and illegal behaviour will not be tolerated.

“The council has clear expectations and high-quality standards, which we will enforce as necessary, to make sure that our communities can safely and confidently travel across North Lincolnshire.

“Licensing will continue to act against unsuitable drivers and unlicensed activity, to ensure that public safety is not compromised.”