Previously convicted Private hire driver prosecuted for touting on multiple occasions

A private hire driver has been successfully prosecuted after an undercover operation in Milton Keynes found him to be touting (illegally plying for hire) on two separate occasions during the same evening. Yasir Mahmood of Luton, was found guilty after denying the charges of plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance on two separate occasions. Mahmood, who has a private hire licence with South Northants Council, picked up Taxi Licensing Officers who were acting as members of the public in Milton Keynes in October 2017. Mahmood' licence only allows him to pick up pre-booked jobs. Further investigations found that Mahmood did not have valid insurance. According to a report in Milton Keynes Citizen, Mahmood was previously prosecuted by Milton Keynes Council for the same offences back in 2010 but was allowed to keep his licence but with the addition of penalty points. Mahmood was fined £100 for each conviction of plying for hire and £200 for each invalid insurance conviction. He has also been disqualified from driving for four months and pay additional costs of £680. Taxi Licensing Officers will continue to crack down on anyone illegally plying for hire in Milton Keynes.