Taxi driver convicted of fraud and driving without insurance receives suspended jail sentence

A taxi driver has been convicted of fraud and driving without insurance after using a fake taxi licence since July 2018.

Wasim Afzal Chaudhry, 50, was accused of creating a fake Stockport Council taxi licence document and supplying the fraudulent document to employers in 2018 so he could continue working as a taxi driver. He had worked as a licensed Stockport taxi driver since 2006 but his licence was revoked in December 2016 after failing to disclose a previous conviction for battery.

The court proceedings took place at Bolton Crown Court on 19 September, where Chaudhry faced a two-day trial. He eventually pleaded guilty to the fraudulent use of the taxi licence, resulting in a four-week imprisonment for failing to attend previous hearings. Chaudhry later appeared at Bolton Crown Court on 20 October via video link for sentencing, where he admitted to driving without insurance.

The judge sentenced Chaudhry to 22 weeks custody, which was suspended for 12 months. In addition, he was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and received six penalty points on his driving licence. Chaudhry is also required to pay £500 in costs and a victim surcharge within six months.

Councillor Frankie Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport at Stockport Council, said: "Residents and visitors to the borough need to know they are safe when they get in a taxi or private hire booking and this is why our Taxi Licensing Team works so hard and are so stringent in taking action against rogue taxi drivers. This is crucial in our commitment to safeguarding unsuspecting passengers and maintaining the standing of legitimate taxi drivers who provide a vital service for our community.

"Congratulations to our Taxi Licensing Team for sending out a strong message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated and that they will do everything they can to ensure every taxi journey in Stockport is safe and provided by licensed, responsible and trustworthy drivers."