Taxi Driver Online

This guy doesn't seem too well organised...

I wonder if he was just trying to drag the whole thing out, as opposed to thinking he could get the revocation overturned

But when the costs thing was explained to him, he thought discretion was the better part of valour

And I'm sure someone on here will have an opinion on this


Banned taxi driver wanted case delayed twelve weeks

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/ ... lve-weeks/

A BANNED taxi driver hoping to get his licence back asked a court to give him 12 weeks to speak to a lawyer.

But Mohammed Rafiq ultimately scrapped his appeal after magistrates told him they would not be willing to allow the case to be adjourned for three months just because he couldn’t currently afford legal representation.

Rafiq, of Seldon Street, Bradford, was stripped of his taxi licence after being convicted of two driving related offences earlier this year.

In March, he received a conviction for driving without due care and attention.

And last month he received a further conviction for driving while using a mobile phone.

The two offences were enough to convince Bradford Council officers that Rafiq was not a fit and proper person to operate a taxi, and he was stripped of his licence.

He has since decided to appeal this decision, and on Friday the appeal was due to be heard at Bradford Magistrates Court.

The appeal was brought by Rafiq, with Bradford Council essentially acting as the defendant.

But on the day, it emerged the former taxi driver had arrived without a lawyer or legal representative.

He requested the case be adjourned to give him time to consult with a lawyer.

When asked how much time he would need to do so, he suggested 12 weeks to a shocked courtroom.

Imran Hussain, representing Bradford Council, told magistrates that while the appeal was ongoing, Rafiq would still retain his licence. He added: “Because of this we would certainly not want to delay matters.”

Magistrates asked why Rafiq was unrepresented, and why he needed 12 weeks to speak to a lawyer.

Speaking through an Urdu interpreter, he said he didn’t have the money to get legal advice.

He was advised that if he continued with the appeal and went on to lose it, he would face a hefty bill for costs that would need to be paid to Bradford Council.

He replied that he didn’t know how he would pay such a bill.

After being told a bill for costs would be inevitable should he lose the appeal, he was asked if he wanted to proceed with the case.

He replied: “It is up to the bench (of Magistrates) to decide.”

Rafiq was reminded that it was his appeal – it was up to him, not magistrates, to decide whether he proceeds.

He then told the court he wished to withdraw the appeal.

So can he be liable for costs at the stage of withdrawing his appeal

Speaking through an interpreter? WTF?

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Former taxi driver

It's kind of gotten to the stage where it's not a thing I notice so much, Jimbo

But that must have been a factor as far as his muddled thinking was concerned

And who foots the bill for the interpreter?

that'll be your good old impoverished british tax payer

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I'm 100% certain that is the case.


What the fella should have done was make the prosecution an offer where both sides meet their own costs. Despite him being potless, I would be amazed if the council doesn't go after him for their costs so far.


It doesn't say when the licence was revoked, but I suspect it was at least 4/5 months ago, as that would be the kind of time the Mags court needs to list this appeal. If he hasn't got the money to fund a solicitor by now, it's not going to happen.


Maybe the bench was shocked, but I suspect they were laughing out loud and/or rolling about the floor.

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IDFIMH

Oh yes.

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IDFIMH

The likes of you and me, and everyone else on TDO.

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IDFIMH