Private hire firm ordered to pay nearly £5,000 for using unlicensed drivers

A private hire firm in Caerphilly, Wales, has been fined for allowing unlicensed drivers to work with them. 

The revelations came to light following an investigation by Caerphilly’s Trading Standards team.

The case, which was held at Cwmbran Magistrates Court, saw private hire firm Fieldston Limited of Machen, and its company director Richard Graham Collins, both plead guilty to eight separate offences.

As reported on South Wales Argus, Fieldstone Limited pleaded guilty to offences related to operating private hire vehicles being driven by unlicensed drivers, employing unlicensed drivers, failing to exhibit the ‘taxi plate’ on private hire vehicles and failing to keep records of private hire contracts. Raymond Charles Bartlett, of Newport, pleaded guilty to one offence of driving a private hire vehicle without having the appropriate driver’s licence to do so.  During a visit by the trading standards team, two private hire vehicles owned and operated by Fieldston Limited were found to be driven by individuals who were not licensed to drive private hire vehicles by the council. Fieldston Limited had also failed to record the details of contracts in their records. Fieldston Limited were fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs to Trading Standards of £900 and a surcharge of £40. Collins was ordered to pay a fine of £3,200, together with costs to Trading Standards of £900 and a surcharge of £40. The unlicensed taxi driver, Raymond Bartlett was fined £330, and ordered to pay costs to Trading Standards of £120 and a surcharge of £33. 

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