This Stoke-on-Trent taxi driver has been caught drug-driving - with three passengers in his cab
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/st ... en-3765576
Now he has been sacked as a cabbie
Image: Stoke Sentinel
Taxi driver Junaid Ahmed was caught drug-driving – with three passengers in the back of his cab.
Police found cannabis in the 26-year-old’s Skoda Octavia when they stopped the car in Hanley.
Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Ahmed gave a positive roadside drugs test when his vehicle was pulled over in Marsh Street at 2.20am on October 26.
Prosecutor Emma Pickard said: “The defendant had three passengers in the taxi at the time.
“Officers searched the vehicle and located a small bag of cannabis. A roadside drug swab was positive and he was later found to be over the specified driving limit for cannabis.
“In his police interview he admitted possessing the cannabis, saying a friend had given it to him and he had forgotten it was in his car.”
Ahmed, of Clarke Street, Shelton, pleaded guilty to drug-driving and possessing a Class B drug. He had no previous convictions.
Simon Dykes, mitigating, said: “He has made a huge mistake. He has lost his job as a taxi driver and brought shame on his family who are not very happy with him.
“Since the birth of his child he has tried to move away from cannabis use. Prior to this incident he had been in the company of some old friends and he had smoked a relatively modest amount of cannabis before going out to work that night.
“He felt OK to drive and did not think one cigarette would have caused him any difficulties or affected his ability to drive. He has now stopped using cannabis completely.”
Magistrates fined Ahmed £300 and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.
Chairman of the bench Eric Ratcliffe told him: “This is a serious matter - an act of pure stupidity. You have learned the lesson that cannabis stays in your system for a long time and - although you might feel fine to drive - you are impaired and your reactions are dulled.”
Ahmed must also pay £185 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.
The cabbie was licensed with Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Following the case, Councillor Randy Conteh, cabinet member for a safer city, said: “The safety and security of people who are travelling with taxi drivers licensed by the city council is absolutely paramount.
"We will seek to immediately revoke the licence of any driver who is found breaking the law and putting the public’s safety in danger.
"We hope it reassures residents that we will always act quickly to remove any driver who is deemed to be a risk to the public.”
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