Illegal Old Trafford hackney and private hire pick-ups prove costly as three drivers fined and handed eight licence points each
- Perry Richardson
- 2 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Three licensed taxi and private hire drivers have been fined and handed eight penalty points on their driving licences after being caught illegally picking up passengers during undercover licensing enforcement operations around Old Trafford on major sporting event days.
Trafford Council brought the prosecutions following investigations carried out during high-profile cricket and football fixtures in 2025. The authority reminded drivers that only Hackney Carriages licensed by Trafford Council are legally permitted to ply for hire within the borough, while private hire vehicles must always be pre-booked through a licensed operator.
Manchester City Council licensed Hackney Carriage driver Ka Lun Wong, 59, was found guilty in his absence of unlicensed plying for hire and using his vehicle without valid insurance. Manchester Magistrates’ Court fined him £660, ordered him to pay a £264 victim surcharge and £660 in prosecution costs, bringing the total financial penalty to £1,584. He also received eight penalty points on his DVLA driving licence.
Wolverhampton-licensed private hire driver Muhammad Adnan, 40, pleaded guilty to unlicensed plying for hire, using a vehicle without insurance and failing to wear his driver’s badge. He was fined £430, ordered to pay a £172 victim surcharge and £198 in costs, totalling £800. He also received eight penalty points on his driving licence.
Both cases, heard at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 24 July 2026, related to incidents during the England v India Test match at Lancashire County Cricket Club in July 2025, when undercover enforcement officers were picked up without making a lawful pre-booking.
A third prosecution involved 65-year-old Manchester City Council licensed Hackney Carriage driver Tahir Islam. He pleaded guilty at Tameside Magistrates’ Court on 15 July 2026 to illegally plying for hire and using his vehicle without insurance after picking up an undercover officer before Manchester United’s home fixture against Sunderland on 4 October 2025.
Islam was fined £484, ordered to pay a £182 victim surcharge and £200 towards prosecution costs. He also received eight penalty points on his driving licence.
Trafford Council said the prosecutions form part of its ongoing licensing enforcement programme around major sporting events, where large crowds can create opportunities for unlawful street hiring.
A Trafford Council spokesperson said: “It is an offence for any vehicle other than a Hackney Carriage licensed in the district to stand or ply for hire. Picking up an un-booked fare automatically invalidates vehicle insurance and leaves passengers vulnerable in the event of a road traffic collision. Trafford Council will continue to take enforcement action where individuals do not adhere to these rules.”
