Cabbie fined after being snared by council staffhttps://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/new ... cil-staff/A FORMER taxi driver has been prosecuted for continuing to work despite having his license suspended.Craig Lucas of Rendcomb, Cirencester pleaded guilty to working as a taxi driver even though his operating licence was suspended by the Cotswold District Council.
Acting on tip offs received from several sources, officers from CDC made a taxi booking with Mr Lucas’s company, Phoenix Cabs in June 2018.
When the vehicle arrived, Mr. Lucas was driving even though he had been warned repeatedly by the council not to carry out taxi work during his suspension.
When interviewed, Mr. Lucas confirmed that he had been the driver. He said he had attempted to find someone else to do the work, but when no one else was available he had done it himself. He also admitted that this was not the first time he had done so whilst suspended.
Appearing at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on 14 January, Mr. Lucas was fined £150 and ordered to pay costs to the council of £100 with a £30 victim surcharge.
He was reminded that his driver licence has since been revoked by the council and he warned about the repercussions of reoffending.
CDC Cabinet Member for Licensing, Cllr Mark MacKenzie-Charrington, said, “This prosecution demonstrates the council’s commitment to enforcing the regulations and protecting the safety of the public. We will have no hesitation in prosecuting other people who are found to have shown a blatant disregard for the law”.
Members of the public can contact the licensing team with concerns by email at
ers@publicagroup.uk or the CFU by email at
fraud.referrals@cotswold.gov.uk
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