Private hire driver stripped of licence after five speeding convictions in under a year
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
A private hire driver from Sleaford has lost his licence to operate after a Crown Court judge backed earlier decisions made by both magistrates and a local council licensing sub-committee.
The revocation of Enus Karim’s licence marks the end of a lengthy appeal process. North Kesteven District Council’s General Licensing Sub Committee first revoked Karim’s private hire driver licence in June 2024 following two speeding offences committed on consecutive days. These incidents came on top of three earlier convictions already on his record.
The Council concluded that Karim was no longer a fit and proper person to hold a licence, citing a pattern of speeding and a risk to passengers and other road users.
Karim, who had initially been granted a licence in October 2023 after passing a formal assessment with the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, challenged the decision. His appeal to Boston Magistrates’ Court in December 2024 was dismissed, and a subsequent appeal to Lincoln Crown Court was also rejected on 2 May 2025.
The Crown Court upheld the Council’s actions under its Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, ruling in favour of public safety concerns. Karim has also been ordered to pay £800 to cover the Council’s costs for the two failed appeals.
Cllr Mark Smith, whose area of Executive Board special interest includes licensing and public protection, said: “The primary purpose of Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Licensing is public safety. It is rare for taxi appeals to progress to the Crown Court, so it is satisfying that the current policy, and the way it is implemented, have been endorsed by both the Magistrates and Crown Courts."
