Minicab driver and North Walsham taxi firm fined for operating an unlicensed vehicle

Norwich Magistrates Court heard today how the Peugeot 3008 he used was also not licenced to operate as a private hire vehicle.

A minicab driver and the North Walsham firm he worked for have been fined for operating an unlicensed vehicle.

Mark Turner, who worked for MG Taxis, carried passengers to and from Mundesley Hospital days after his private hire licence was suspended.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard today how the Peugeot 3008 he used was also not licenced to operate as a private hire vehicle.

It meant that the 50-year-old was not covered by insurance to make the journeys on August 15 and 16 last year.

He pleaded guilty to using the car as a private hire vehicle without a licence, and driving it without third party insurance.

Prosecutor Cara Jordan said Turner was caught driving his vehicle by another taxi driver in the town.

She said: “He contacted the [North Norfolk District] council to say he had seen Mark driving away with people from Mundesley Hospital, but the vehicle being used did not have a taxi plate.”

Miss Jordan said just days before Turner was spotted, MG Taxis had emailed the council to say the licenced vehicle was being decommissioned.

She said Turner also had his private hire licence suspended by the council on August 10 due to a number of “contraventions”.

An investigation was launched, and CCTV footage from the mental health hospital showed Turner picking up passengers.

Appearing alongside Turner in court was his mother Jeannette, 72, who operated the family-run taxi firm.

She pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle as a private hire vehicle without a current licence.

She also pleaded guilty to failing to keep or produce records of taxi work carried out between August 19 and 30.

Miss Jordan said: “Jeannette at the time of these offences was the operator of MG taxis and she was responsible for operating an unlicensed vehicle.”

Dave Foulkes, on behalf of both defendants, said MG Taxis had been running for around three years before its demise.

He said Turner was insured for the vehicle, just not to use it for private hire.

Turner, of Northfield Road, North Walsham, was fined £240 and disqualified from driving for 12 months. He must also pay court costs of £200.

His mother, of Spurdens Crescent, North Walsham, received a £490 fine and 12 points on her licence, resulting in a six-month driving ban.

source: http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/cri ... -1-5012084

She also pleaded guilty to failing to keep or produce records of taxi work carried out between August 19 and 30.

From the content of this report it would seem that you can loose your driving license for operating an unlicensed vehicle without actually being the driver of such vehicle.

From the content of this report it would seem that you can loose your driving license for operating an unlicensed vehicle without actually being the driver of such vehicle.

usually a 6 point offence