Three private hire drivers have been successfully prosecuted at MK Magistrates’ Court for illegally plying for hire (blagging).

Mohammed Ubayed Ahmed of Bradwell Road, Bradwell; Mohammed Javed Akhtar of Crawley Green Road, Luton; and Abu Sadek of Pottery Lane, Luton were caught illegally picking up passengers in Milton Keynes during an enforcement operation carried out by Milton Keynes Council in 2018.

Mohammed Ubayed Ahmed accepted a journey which had not been pre-booked from Central Milton Keynes to Fenny Stratford on 2 December 2018. Further investigations showed that the vehicle used by the driver was not insured for this journey. Mr Ahmed attended Court on 10 May 2019 and pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance on 2 December 2018. He was fined £300 for plying for hire, £400 for invalid motor insurance, given 6 points on his DVLA licence, and also has to pay costs of £85 with a victim surcharge of £95.

Mohammed Javed Akhtar accepted a journey which had not been pre-booked from Central Milton Keynes to Fenny Stratford on 7 October 2018. Further investigations showed that the vehicle used by the driver was not insured for this journey. Mr Akhtar pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance on 7 October 2018. He was fined £80 for plying for hire, £120 for invalid motor insurance, given 6 points on his DVLA licence, and also has to pay costs of £85 with a victim surcharge of £30.

Abu Sadek accepted a journey which had not been pre-booked from Central Milton Keynes to Fenny Stratford on 7 October 2018. Further investigations showed that the vehicle used by the driver was not insured for this journey. Mr Sadek pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance on 7 October 2018. He was fined £69 for plying for hire, £103 for invalid motor insurance, given 6 points on his DVLA licence, and also has to pay costs of £85 with a victim surcharge of £30.

At the time of the offences the vehicles were operated by Skyline and Speedline. Mr Ahmed’s vehicle was licensed by Milton Keynes Council and Mr Akhtar and Mr Sadek’s vehicles were licensed by Aylesbury Vale District Council. MKC and AVDC will take appropriate action in regard to the Private Hire/Hackney Carriage driver licences.

Steve Hayes, Head of Transport at Milton Keynes Council said:

“Our priority is to ensure customers are safe and if they use private hire vehicles without pre-booking they are not insured."