Cabbie wins appeal
A REDDITCH taxi driver who lost his operator's licence has won at appeal before a judge at Worcester Crown Court.
Navied Ahmed had his licence revoked by Redditch Council after failing to disclose a "technical" case of driving without insurance in a private car.
The town's magistrates upheld the decision after finding that Mr Ahmed was "not a fit and proper person" under council guidelines.
But he gave evidence that the offence was not deliberately concealed.
At the time he was going through a marriage breakdown and forgot the conviction.
Judge Alistair McCreath told Mr Ahmed, of Hewell Road in Redditch, he had been "highly negligent" but ruled that revocation of his licence was "disproportionate".
He removed the revocation and substituted a six-month suspension of the taxi licence.
The 34-year-old appellant will be able to work as a taxi driver after August 16.
Mr Ahmed first obtained a cabbie's licence in 2004 and worked for four years in the job.
He then became a property surveyor for two years before being made redundant and deciding to return to his old form of employment.
He submitted a licence application in January 2009 but had to wait until July for the licence and a Criminal Records Bureau check to be completed.
Nine days before the completion he was driving a friend's car which turned out to be uninsured, although Mr Ahmed had his own car insurance.
The judge described the offence as "technical". He said although the taxi licence was granted in 2009 - and then revoked in 2010 - the appellant had driven a cab for 18 months without mishap.
The court heard that Mr Ahmed had two convictions for speeding, two for no insurance and one for driving while holding a mobile phone on his record.
Simon Hunka, prosecuting, said public safety was at the forefront of the council's mind when considering taxi licence applications.
But defence barrister Earl Pinnock said revoking the licence "was a step too far".
He said a short suspension would allow Mr Ahmed to reflect on his poor past conduct and adjust his behaviour in the future.
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