Blundering Stoke-on-Trent cabbies land criminal records after trying to cover up taxi crashhttps://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/st ... nd-2995105Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council took them to court after Burslem collisionTwo Stoke-on-Trent cabbies have landed themselves in court - after trying to cover up a taxi crash.
Burslem-based ABC Supreme Private Hire operator Neil Wilkes says he did not allow Stoke-on-Trent-licensed driver Salam Ibrahim to drive a cab licensed with Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.
But he admitted asking his brother to fill in a council accident form to say he was driving the vehicle.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud by false representation when he appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre this week.
It followed 51-year-old Ibrahim - who admitted the same offence - being involved in a crash at the junction of Hamil Road, Burslem, last June.
Instead of informing Stoke-on-Trent City Council of this accident, he lied and told them he was driving a privately-owned vehicle in Warrington when he had the crash.
The prosecution was brought on behalf of Newcastle Borough Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Prosecutor Collette Lamb said: "Neil Wilkes told Newcastle Borough Council that Salam Ibrahim had taken the wrong vehicle as his base holds licences for both Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle.
"Had the accident been properly reported to the council, they would have been aware that an unlicensed driver had been involved in an accident."
Referring to Ibrahim's involvement, Ms Lamb added: "It was only when Stoke-on-Trent City Council received court documents that they realised the collision was in Burslem and not Warrington.
"At a later date he admitted this in an interview with the city council and said the base operator told him to lie on the form."
The court heard Wilkes, of St Andrew's Mews, Wychwood Village, had become bogged down by pressures in his personal life and hadn't realised Ibrahim had taken a Newcastle Borough Council cab.
Scott Anderson, mitigating for Wilkes, said: "He is a gentleman who has not had any difficulties with the council previously. He has a lot going on in his personal life.
"He has elderly parents and a mother who is suffering from dementia and he is spending a lot of time on her care.
"Also his own health has suffered as he found a cancerous lump on his back which has since required treatment.
"Both the vehicle and the driver were licensed in some respect. This was somebody who made a rash decision - a rash decision because he wasn't thinking straight."
Magistrates handed 51-year-old Wilkes a £1,045 court bill for the offence.
Magistrate Jonathon Dennatt told him: "You were responsible for the decision. It was a very silly decision."
The court heard Ibrahim, of Pinfold Avenue, Norton, came to the UK from Iraq.
Mr Anderson, mitigating for Ibrahim, said: "He's the sole breadwinner and places a lot of worth on this licence. He has a large family of six children, his wife has dementia. He still works as a taxi driver and is of previous good character."
Magistrates handed Ibrahim a £710 court bill.
Here's what Stoke-on-Trent City Council has to say:The defendants have been warned they may now be hauled before the council's licensing and registration panel.
Councillor Randy Conteh, cabinet member for communities and safer city, said: “The safety and security of people travelling with taxi drivers is absolutely paramount, and we expect high standards from those who are licensed by the council.
"Following the conclusion of the court case, we will now be considering whether to refer the cases to the council’s licensing and registration panel for a review of the licences.”
Here's what Newcastle Borough Council has to say:Councillor Stephen Sweeney, cabinet member for finance and efficiency, said: “This case sends out a strong message that operators and drivers will be held to account if their actions fall below the exceptionally high standards required at all times.
“Our first priority and responsibility is to protect the safety and well-being of passengers travelling in taxis. Applicants must prove they’re fit and proper before they are granted a licence – this includes acting with honesty and integrity which sadly wasn’t demonstrated in this case.
“It’s against the law to drive a private hire vehicle that’s licensed by another council. Breaching this meant that the driver was not licensed, or insured, to operate the taxi and as a result the safety of the passenger was compromised. We are now considering whether to take further action against the operator.”
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