Taxi driver worked 200 fares without right licence

A taxi driver from Bradford carried out more than 200 jobs without a valid private hire licence or insurance, a court heard.

Khalid Bashir said his lack of English meant he did not realise he was not allowed to work while Bradford Council was still processing his taxi licence renewal.

Not having the licence meant he did not have the right insurance when he drove passengers for his employer, Keighley-based Aireside Private Hire, between October and November 2025.

He has since lost his private hire licence, but escaped further punishment when he appeared at Bradford Magistrates' Court charged with driving a private hire vehicle without a licence and driving without proper insurance.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Bashir told the court his employers provided him with a vehicle and allowed him to carry out jobs during the period when he did not have a valid licence.

Bashir admitted both charges, but argued that "special reasons" meant he should not face further punishment.

Prosecuting on behalf of Bradford Council, Imran Hussain said Bashir had applied for his licence to be renewed, but his application was placed on hold when the council's licensing department discovered an undisclosed report of a mobile phone offence he had committed while behind the wheel in 2023.

Despite not receiving any paperwork to say his licence had been renewed, Bashir carried on driving.

Speaking through an interpreter, the defendant claimed he struggled to read official paperwork in English.

He said he often would ask his wife, cousin or colleagues to read the paperwork and let him know what he needed to do.

Bashir told the court he thought he would be fine to trade while his application was being assessed.

He claimed his employers had not told him he could not transport passengers during this period.

After deliberating, the magistrates overseeing the hearing said the crime was due to a misunderstanding, rather than an attempt to break the law.

They gave Bashir an absolute discharge, meaning he was free to leave without any punishment.

In May, the boss of Aireside Private Hire, Imran Khan, was found guilty of employing a driver without a proper licence.

He was fined £220, ordered to pay an £88 court surcharge and costs to the council of £600.

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