Former taxi driver fined for failing to disclose prior convictions and revocation of licence

A former taxi driver has pleaded guilty to four offences of knowingly or recklessly making a false statement or omitting material in an application to a council’s licensing team.

Rofiqul Islam Khan of Bybrook Road, Ashford submitted an application to Ashford Borough Council to become a private hire driver in May 2018, but failed to disclose prior convictions and the suspension and revocation of a private hire licence by Transport for London.

Khan had previously held taxi driving licences but had had them revoked by Ashford Borough Council in 2013, Folkestone and Hythe District Council (formerly Shepway District Council) in 2013 and 2016, and had a licence suspended by Transport for London in 2016, which was then revoked in 2017.

The Magistrates at Folkestone Magistrates Court on 11 February 2019 reportedly commented that they were not convinced that the omissions were a mistake but acknowledged his early guilty plea.

They fined Khan a total of £400, awarded the council costs of £651 and ordered him to pay a £30 victim surcharge.

Cllr Brad Bradford, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing at Ashford Borough Council, said: “I hope that this result sends a message to the people of the borough that they can have confidence in the diligence of our officers, and the strength of our policies which are designed to keep the public safe when using this form of transport. Applicants that may be acting to deceive the council will be dealt with robustly and offences pursued accordingly.”