AN UNLICENSED taxi driver who picked up a fare in Barnsley town centre has been fined.
Yasser Hussain, of Aldred Street, Rotherham, works for private hire firm Northern Taxis and his Sheffield-based licence prohibits him from picking up any customers who have not pre-booked.
The 31-year-old, who denied collecting Christine Summers from a taxi rank on Eldon Street, was found guilty by District Judge Naomi Redhouse following a trial at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The court was told Hussain was in the town centre as he had taken a customer from Meadowhall train station to Barnsley Interchange at around 5.20pm on January 22 of last year, and had a 30-minute wait until picking up his next pre-booked fare on Racecommon Road.
Ms Summers said: “I use taxis two or three times a week to get from the town centre to work in Pogmoor. I always use the Eldon Street rank and nothing was different on that day - a taxi pulled up and I got in.
“The driver didn’t ask if I’d pre-booked. My suspicions were raised because he did not know where to go and relied on my directions. I thought it was strange as most taxi drivers know the area really well.
“The fare always costs £4.20. I questioned him when it was at £5 and we were still around a quarter of a mile away from where I wanted to go, so I got out.
“I tapped the vehicle’s registration plate into my phone and reported it as I just thought something wasn’t quite right.”
Mr Hussain denied picking up the fare and claimed it was a case of mistaken identity, which District Judge Redhouse ruled out.
“This is a matter where the driver denies taking a fare,” she added. “The majority of the evidence is agreed as no-one disputes Mr Hussain was in his taxi in Barnsley around the time Ms Summers was picked up.
“She has no reason to accuse anyone of wrongdoing but her suspicions were raised and she rightfully reported the matter. Mr Hussain was clearly at the rank and plying for hire, I am satisfied that this is the case.”
Mr Hussain was fined £150, ordered to pay court costs of £500 and a £30 victim surcharge.
Coun Roy Miller, cabinet spokesperson, said: “If a taxi driver is picking up customers without the necessary licence from the relevant local authority to do so, they are committing an offence. It also leaves the vehicle without the correct insurance, putting the passenger at risk.
“I urge anyone standing at the Barnsley taxi rank to always check the taxi’s plates and stickers to make sure it is legal and licensed.”
