Driver fined for offering illegal taxi rides in Reading
- Test purchase operation catches driver illegally plying for hire in town centre
- Driver ordered to pay £788 and given six points on their driving licence
- Licensing authority revoked the drivers licence as a result of prosecution
A SLOUGH taxi and private hire driver has been ordered to pay £788 in fines and costs, given six penalty points on his driving licence, and had his dual licence revoked after being caught illegally plying for hire in Reading.
Mr Mohammad Qaiser Ayub, of Conegar Court, Slough, was licensed as a Dual Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver by Slough Borough Council. A dual licence does not permit the holder to ply for hire outside of the Slough area.
On 24 February 2024, Reading Licensing officers were conducting a test purchase operation to detect drivers illegally plying for hire. They flagged down Mr Ayub’s Slough-licensed vehicle outside the Grosvenor Casino on Queens Road.
A test purchase was undertaken in which Mr Ayub agreed to take the officers to an address in Slough for £40, without the required pre-booking.
During an interview under caution, Mr Ayub denied any wrongdoing. On 3 March 2025, Mr Ayub was convicted by Reading Magistrates Court.
As a result of the conviction, Slough Borough Council revoked Mr Ayub’s dual licence with immediate effect on 4 March 2025.
Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:
“This result is a testament to the continued success of our Licensing team in catching and prosecuting drivers who choose to operate outside of the law, taking trade away from local fully licensed and insured drivers.
“Crucially, if a member of the public gets into a vehicle operating unlawfully, they will not be covered by insurance in the event of an accident. Test purchasing exercises like this one by our Licensing officers are vital to ensure the standards expected of Private Hire drivers are upheld and to ensure the safety and welfare of the taxi travelling public.”
ENDS