Out of area private hire driver prosecuted for illegal operations

On Monday, 29 September 2025, Mr Aneel Hussain, a licensed private hire driver with Tewkesbury Borough Council, pleaded guilty to plying for hire on 14 March 2025 during Cheltenham’s race week.

Mr Hussain was seen with lights not working by a Cheltenham Borough Council licensing officer and Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s Taxi Compliance Officer, PC Quinton, working together during the Friday evening of Cheltenham race week. When pulled over it transpired that the vehicle was not pre-booked and that the passengers had agreed a fare on the roadside outside of the Queen’s Hotel.

He was fined £230 for illegally plying for hire, £346 for driving without insurance due to the illegal fare and a victim surcharge of £230.  He also received 8 penalty points.  Costs of £1157.50 were also awarded to the council.

The prosecution was brought by Cheltenham Borough Council’s licensing team, with assistance from the council’s Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit and One Legal, a legal service shared by Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucester City Council, Stroud District Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council.

Cheltenham Borough Council’s cabinet member for safety and communities, Councillor Victoria Atherstone, said:

“Cheltenham Borough Council is committed to ensuring the safety and legality of taxi and private hire services in our community. This successful prosecution sends a very clear message that we will not tolerate illegal activity in our town and will take decisive action to protect Cheltenham residents and our visitors.  We are also committed to working with our partner agencies to ensure that Cheltenham is a safe town to visit during festival season and all year round.

“I would like to thank our licensing team, the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit, and One Legal for their diligent work in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.”