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Unlicensed Melton taxi driver ordered to pay more than £1,000 by court
https://www.meltontimes.co.uk/news/crim ... -1-9180239
A Melton taxi driver has been prosecuted for a second time by the borough council for operating without a driver’s licence and a vehicle licence.
Edward Arthur Hollingworth of Wilton Court, Melton, failed, for the second time, to respond to the prosecution and was convicted by magistrates in the absence of a plea.
Adele Wylie, the council’s director for governance and regulatory services, said: “The purpose of taxi and private hire licensing is to protect the travelling public.
“Passengers and other road users need to be safe and driving a vehicle without valid insurance places others at risk – the council takes this very seriously.”
Mr Hollingworth was fined £220 for each of the offences, which took place earlier this year.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and prosecution costs of £650.
The offences cost him a total of £1,120.
Ms Wylie added: “Licensing taxi drivers who are working in our district help us keep our residents safe.
“Members of the public have a right to expect that the taxis working in our district are properly licensed and that a licensed driver has been found to be a fit and proper person.
“This prosecution should send a clear message that the council takes its responsibility seriously and will prosecute unlicensed drivers for ignoring the law.“
For what it's worth, this is the council's online press release. The headline is a bit more accurate (since he was an unlicensed driver rather than a taxi driver), but oddly doesn't included the name of the council director, which was presumably added by the newspaper. Other than that it's much the same, but the looks of it
Unlicensed driver from Melton prosecuted for the second time for using an unlicensed vehicle
Published Thursday, 19th December 2019
Edward Arthur Hollingwortth of Wilton Court, Melton Mowbray has been prosecuted for a second time by Melton Borough Council for two offences of operating as a taxi driver without a drivers licence and operating as a taxi driver without a vehicle licence.
Mr Hollingworth failed, for the second time, to respond to the prosecution and was convicted by the Magistrates Court in the absence of a plea.
The Director for Governance and Regulatory Services said “The purpose of taxi and private hire licensing is to protect the travelling public. Passengers and other road users need to be safe and driving a vehicle without valid insurance places other at risk –the Council takes this very seriously”.
Mr Hollingworth was fined £220 for each of the offences, which took place earlier this year. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and prosecution costs of £650.00 - a total of £1,120.
The Director for Governance and Regulatory Services went on to say: "Licensing taxi drivers who are working in our district help us keep our residents safe. Members of the public have a right to expect that the taxis working in our district are properly licensed and that a licensed driver has been found to be a fit and proper person. This prosecution should send a clear message that the Council takes its responsibility seriously and will prosecute unlicensed drivers for ignoring the law. "
