Private hire driver stripped of licence after cash-filled vehicle and police suspicions spark action to revoke
- Perry Richardson
- Nov 19, 2025
- 2 min read
A private hire driver has been thrown out of the trade after councillors ruled that a chain of troubling events, police concerns and an implausible explanation around a large chunk of money, left public safety at risk.
The misconduct case was detailed before the Licensing and Environmental Regulation Committee on 28 October.
The hearing centred on an incident that began when South Yorkshire Police moved in on the driver’s vehicle in September 2024. Officers believed they had witnessed a drug deal. When they stopped the cab, they found a staggering £5,200 in cash inside.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs and money laundering, then bailed pending further enquiries. Police confirmed on the day of the committee meeting that no further action would be taken, but the panel made clear that this did not end the matter from a licensing perspective.
The driver offered an account that councillors later described as unrealistic. He claimed his vehicle had a mechanical issue and that he had been told to give it a long run. He said this led him to Sheffield because he wanted to drive up and down hills. He told the committee he pulled over to find a Mosque on his phone and asked a stranger for directions. According to his version of events, the man climbed into the licensed vehicle, then fled and left behind a bag containing thousands of pounds.
Councillors were not persuaded. They concluded, on the balance of probabilities, that a transaction had taken place. They rejected the driver’s reason for being in Sheffield and his explanation for the large amount of cash inside the vehicle. Concern grew further when the panel learned he had removed his cab livery and placed it in the boot.
The Committee also examined his wider conduct record. He had a previous conviction for failing to maintain proper control of the vehicle while using a mobile phone, a warning letter on file and four complaints of dangerous driving. Another complaint involved a request for a cash payment. Taken together, councillors said these incidents pointed to a pattern that could not be ignored.
Councillor Donaghy moved to revoke the licence immediately and to refuse renewal of the associated vehicle licence. Every member present backed the motion. The decision removed the driver from the road without delay, with the Committee ruling there was more than enough cause to act in the interests of public safety.
