from Nottingham post
A private hire driver got a £750 fine after being trapped in a police sting to catch bogus cabbies in the city.
Muhammed Zaheer, 30, has a licence which only allows him to pick up passengers who have booked in advance.
He was approached by officers in "an undercover police operation in the city centre" at 11.40pm on July 21, said Judith Kirkham, prosecuting at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.
"The officers spoke to him and he accepted their fare. It was not pre-booked.
"He was near the Bluebell pub and on the next corner, there is a proper taxi rank," said Mrs Kirkham, who described Zaheer as working for "one of the more reputable taxi companies".
Prosecution costs of £35 were ordered from Zaheer of Flintham Drive, Sherwood. He pleaded guilty to plying for hire when his vehicle "was not licensed as a public hackney carriage".
He also admitted having no insurance when the taxi offence was committed on Upper Parliament Street.
District Judge Leo Pyle put six penalty points on his driving licence and told him: "I give you full credit for your guilty pleas."
Zaheer had never been in trouble before and represented himself in court. He told the judge he was only in the area as he had a pre-booked fare there.
He was ordered to clear the court bill at a rate of £50 monthly, after filling in a form to say he is a "self-employed taxi driver earning £500 weekly net pay."
Another driver pleaded not guilty to identical charges on Beastmarket Hill on July 22. His trial will be held in March.
it does annoy me these journo's using the words "taxi driver" in the headlines and "private hire" in the article
