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Taxi driver ordered to pay almost £800 after illegally picking up customer at QMC
A taxi driver must pay £795 after illegally picking up a customer at the Queen's Medical Centre. City magistrates heard that Ghadere Ahmed's insurance was invalidated because he only had a private hire licence. He was caught by a plain clothes police officer who was outside the hospital at 7.40pm on October 30, said Daniel Pietryka, prosecuting.
Five vehicles were displaying taxi signs and the officer went up to the front passenger side window of the vehicle driven by Ahmed, 37, of Mickleden Close, The Meadows . "He asked if he was free to give him a lift at that time. He asked where he wanted to go and he said ' Clifton '. "The driver said 'OK' and so he got into the vehicle. When the vehicle got onto Derby Road, the officer asked him to pull over and said he was not legally plying for hire by offering the ride to the officer," added Mr Pietryka.
Ahmed pleaded guilty to being the driver of a Skoda Superb and plying for hire when not licensed as a public hackney carriage. He also admitted having no insurance at the time. He was fined £500 for the insurance offence and £160 for the licensing offence. There were £85 prosecution costs and a government surcharge of £50. Ahmed offered to pay at a rate of £50 monthly and this was accepted.
Presiding magistrate Daniel Junor, who sat with two colleagues, told Ahmed: "We are not going to disqualify you but six points will be put on your licence." Ahmed told the court that he had been standing outside the QMC because he was suffering from kidney stones. He planned to drive home. "I was talking to a friend and stretching. This guy, this officer, asked for hire. Honest to God, I would not do it. "That is why I am here. I did this, it is my mistake," said Ahmed.
He told the court that he has a family to maintain and added: "I would rather get points than a disqualification."
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