A number of private hire drivers have been successfully prosecuted at MK Magistrates’ Court for illegally plying for hire (blagging) following a joint enforcement operation conducted by Milton Keynes, South Northants and Aylesbury Vale Councils.

Abdullah Sheik Sulaiman of Serpentine Court, Bletchley had accepted a £12 journey from Central MK to Fenny Stratford in March 2019 which had not been pre-booked. At the time Mr Sulaiman’s vehicle was only insured for pre-booked journeys with operator UBER. Mr Sulaiman attended Court on 19 July 2019 and pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance. He was fined £60 for plying for hire; £180 for no insurance; given 6 points on his DVLA licence; and ordered to pay costs of £420 with a victim surcharge of £30. Mr Sulaiman is licensed by Transport for London and they will now review his licence as a result of this conviction.

Mohammed Taghi Alizadeh of Scardale, Heelands, Milton Keynes had accepted a £15 journey from Central MK to Fenny Stratford in October 2018 which had not been pre-booked. Mr Alizadeh vehicle was only insured for pre-booked journeys with operator Skyline at the time. Mr Alizadeh attended Court on 22 July 2019 and pleaded not guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance. Following a trial he was convicted and fined £50 for plying for hire; £150 for no insurance; given 6 points on his DVLA licence, and ordered to pay costs of £300 with a victim surcharge of £30. Mr Alizadeh is licensed by South Northants Council and they will now review his licence as a result of this conviction.

In a separate case, Kwesi Owuson of Richardson Place, Oldbrook, Milton Keynes had accepted a £10 journey from Central MK to Fenny Stratford in October 2018 which had not been pre-booked. At the time Mr Owuson’s vehicle was only insured for pre-booked journeys with operator Skyline. Mr Owuson pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance on 24 July 2019. He was fined £270 for plying for hire; given 6 points on his DVLA licence; and ordered to pay costs of £500 with a victim surcharge of £30. Mr Owuson is licensed by Aylesbury Vale Council and they will now review his licence as a result of this conviction.

Councillor Mick Legg, Chair of MKC’s Regulatory (Taxi) Committee said:

“If private hire drivers pick up passengers that have not pre-booked the journey then the vehicle is not insured. Our officers work alongside other local authorities to stop taxi drivers operating in this way which is a breach of law and more importantly it puts public safety at risk.”

“For this diver, it has cost a lot more than the £10 taxi fare and he now also has 6 on his DVLA licence. I hope that any private hire driver thinking of acting in a similar way will think twice after seeing the consequences of this case.”