Legal News

Spelthorne Council in Surrey has prosecuted a taxi driver who overcharged six vulnerable adults and invalidated his insurance by accepting six passengers, when his vehicle was only licensed to take five.

Firoz Mohammed, Feltham appeared at Staines Magistrates’ Court, pleading not guilty to the charges. Mohammed said that he could not remember the journey, despite the witness having confronted him the day after.

The defendant had charged the six adults between £10 and £15 each for a journey that started at Staines railway station and ended in Shepperton – a total of 14 charges were brought.

Mohammed was found guilty of all charges and was given six points on his licence, as well as being fined £180 for having no insurance, £650 for breaching taxi licensing bye-laws, a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £1,000.

He also had his Spelthorne hackney carriage licence revoked following the offences.

Chairman of the Council's Licensing Committee, Councillor Robin Sider, said:

"I am very pleased with the outcome – and would particularly like to thank the witness, without whose clear evidence this case would not have been able to proceed.

Mr Mohammed took advantage of vulnerable adults by charging them an extortionate amount for a journey of just a few miles. He also put them at risk as his insurance was invalidated.

The council takes this type of dishonest behaviour very seriously and I hope the outcome of this case serves as a deterrent to others.”

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