Grays taxi driver ordered to pay costs after withdrawing appealA TAXI driver has been ordered to pay £1,000 costs after withdrawing an appeal.
Ghani Rhaman Ghani, a former Grays driver, stopped his fight against Thurrock Council’s decision to take his licence away.
Ghani, of Clarence Road, had appeared at the council’s licensing sub-committee in October last year, which heard he had earlier misled the council’s sub-committee by claiming he had not been convicted of an offence..
Members heard there had been “a clear breach of licence conditions” when he responded to questions about driving without insurance and a speeding conviction.
Ghani, 42, appealed against the sub committee’s decision to revoke his Hackney Carriage or Private Hire driver’s licence and the appeal was due to be heard at Basildon Magistrate’s Court on Monday, May 13.
However he withdrew the appeal on the day and was ordered to pay the cash towards the council’s costs.
Councillor Angie Gaywood, Thurrock Council’s portfolio holder for public protection, said: “Securing the safety of passengers in Thurrock’s hackney carriages and private hire vehicles is paramount and we are committed to ensuring we take appropriate action against those who flout our rules and regulations.”
Councillor Mike Stone, chair of the council’s licensing committee, added: “I hope this serves as a warning to our licence holders than any breach of their licence terms will be judged seriously and it is the responsibility of licence holders to review their conditions and ensure they are not breached.”
“It will also serve as a warning that an appeal without good grounds can be a costly experience.”
source:
http://www.thurrockgazette.co.uk/news/1 ... ng_appeal/