Taxi Driver Online

Drive Ban For Rogue Party Limo Firm Boss

8th October 2009

A rogue businessman who rented unlicensed and unsafe vehicles to prom and party-goers has been banned from driving and ordered to pay almost £9,000 – after being caught out in a council sting.

Darryl Williams, who used to own Redhot Rescue and Oddball Limos, unknowingly ferried 11 council officers in a novelty fire engine.

Williams, of Talbot Place, Bilston, now works as a taxi driver after both companies hit the skids following a damning report by the Traffic Commissioner.

The 35-year-old appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court yesterday where he was sentenced for a string of safety, licensing and insurance charges. The court also heard how he had a catalogue of previous convictions, including running red lights, speeding on the motorway and driving while on the phone.

The main vehicle in Williams’s fleet was a fire engine called The Oddity, which featured a dancefloor and bar. Williams drove the engine without a private hire or Public Service Vehicle Operators licence for three years and it did not have the correct MOT. It was later found to have dodgy safety rails, unsafe seating and insufficient anti-slip surfaces to stop passengers falling over.

The council and police sting was carried out on December 12 last year as Williams was continuing to advertise Oddball Limos despite not having the correct licences.

A fake trip from Wolverhampton’s Great Western pub to Broad Street was arranged for the legal maximum of 10 people for £300. On the day, 11 passengers – all council officers – were allowed on board and The Oddity was eventually pulled over by police.

Miss Amy Jacobs, prosecuting, said: “In interview, he admitted he had been running the businesses for three years with a fleet of four vehicles and had no licence for any of that time.” Williams was fined £2,530, ordered to pay £6,322 costs and was disqualified from driving for six months.

Chairman of the bench Alan Leo said: “It was more luck than judgement that nothing serious ever happened on board these vehicles.” Williams had previously pleaded guilty to 15 charges.

Source; ExpressandStar.com

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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estimated turnover vs fine?

and hes allowed a badge - depite flouting the rukes for THREE years?

how is he working as a taxi driver if hes banned?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

TUT TUT the council putting there employees at risk as he would not have been insured, could a council employee have sued the council if there was a accident as Oddball limos would not have been coverd..

Probably licensed by Brum; they do all the checks you know!!

And he's probaly got his NVQ & once you've got that, anybody can join!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

how was there a "legal maximum" of 10 passengers in an illegally operated vehicle?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

If memory serves me right wasn't he a big fan of the self-drive scam?

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IDFIMH

I would imagine he isn't any more.

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IDFIMH

You should know that the insurance would still cover the passengers. The driver and vehicle would not be covered.

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Grandad,

I am not sure that you are correct. I think he was just one of the bad guys and got what he deserved. I bet you are over the moon that he is now a taxi driver.

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Grandad,

I'm over the moon he has finally got licensed, and even more over the moon if he loses it soon.

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IDFIMH

hes been banned for 6 months, so he wont be around for a while

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Actually it just says that he is working as a taxi driver, it doesn't say that he is licensed.

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Grandad,