Taxi boss cleared of illegal pick-ups

The owner of a Shropshire taxi firm has been cleared of charges of illegally picking up night-time revellers without a booking.

Mohammed Alyas, who is also a councillor on Wellington Town Council, today claimed Telford & Wrekin Council had wasted public money in bringing him to court.

The 43-year-old, who is joint proprietor of County Cabs in Wellington, appeared before Telford Magistrates Court on Monday on a charge of touting for business without a licence and not having the correct insurance. He was found not guilty.

Licensing bosses at the borough council brought the case after setting up a "sting" operation to catch private hire drivers who were taking passengers without a pre-booking, Telford Magistrates Court heard on Monday.

The court was told that on March 20, 2010, enforcement officers from the council's licensing team sent two staff from its planning department to act as passengers and approach unsuspecting drivers.

The staff were dropped off outside Harper Adams University College in Edgmond, near Newport, on the night of a student ball, and approached Mr Alyas's car.

They asked him to take them to the University of Wolverhampton campus in Priorslee, where two enforcement officers were waiting for him.

Witness Paul Crampton, licensing officer with Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "The purpose was to detect private hire vehicles which were being used by fare-paying passengers without the journey being booked.

"We were being informed, by two officers engaged to secure a journey, by text that they were on their way to us."

Mrs Natasha Bournes, defending, said the computerised booking system used by the firm showed the fare was pre-booked by a member of the public and added there was no way to tamper with it.

Presiding magistrate Mrs Christine Grain said Mr Alyas was a "credible" witness.

She added it was the court's belief he picked up the council workers in good faith.

Speaking after the case Mr Alyas criticised the decision to prosecute him.

He said: "This whole case has been a waste of taxpayers' money."