Private hire driver banned from the roads after operating illegally in Reading

A PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER has been banned from driving for four months and ordered to pay more than £2,000 in costs, after he was caught illegally plying for hire in Reading town centre.

Mr Ram Sah, of Cholmeley Terrace, Reading, attended Reading Magistrates Court on 20 October 2025, in relation to an incident where, on 14 February 2025, Mr Sah approached two Reading Council Licensing officers at the Pentahotel on Oxford Road, and offered his services as a taxi.

Mr Sah offered to illegally transport the officers to Gatwick Airport for a fee of £100, without the required prior booking.

It is illegal for Private Hire drivers to pick up passengers from the street or a taxi rank. Private Hire fares must be pre-booked; otherwise, passengers are not covered by insurance in the case of an accident.

When the officers made themselves known to Mr Sah, he drove away without warning, with the door of his vehicle still open, which narrowly missed one of the officers.

At Reading Magistrates Court, Mr Sah was found guilty of the offences of Plying for Hire and using a motor vehicle without insurance. He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £2,210 in costs, as well as a surcharge of £80.

His disqualification from driving is immediate and lasts for four months.

Cllr Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:

“Thanks to Reading’s proactive Licensing team, another driver choosing to flout the rules and ultimately risk putting others in danger has been caught.

“Covert operations like this one will continue, pursuing illegal drivers to ensure standards of our licensed trade are kept high, and customers can have confidence they are having a safe, legal journey by a properly licensed and vetted driver.”

Anyone with concerns about taxi or Private Hire drivers can report them confidentially to licensing@reading.gov.uk or by calling the Council Contact Centre on 0118 937 3787. 

ENDS