Successful Prosecution of Driver Without Private Hire Licence

A WEST Reading man has been convicted of driving a school transport vehicle without the proper licence.

Neil Stock, of Oxford Road, was ordered to pay more than £300 in financial penalties after appearing before Reading Magistrates Court last week. The court heard how a Council licensing officer spotted Mr Stock driving a school transport vehicle along Oxford Road on the afternoon of May 11th 2017 when he was not licensed to do so. There were no children in the vehicle but there was an adult passenger. Mr Stock, 49, admitted driving a licensed vehicle while not having a private hire driver's licence at a hearing on Friday 19th January. He was fined £150 and ordered to pay £150 costs and £30 victim surcharge.

Cllr Sarah Hacker, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Consumer Services, said:

“Our licensing officers are always out and about in the borough looking out for the safety of our residents. “It is not acceptable for individuals to be driving private hire vehicles without the necessary licence and it is even more concerning when it is a school transport vehicle. “I would like to congratulate our licensing and legal teams on their successful prosecution of this case.”