Unlicensed school run taxi driver caught five times before prosecution leads to nearly £2,700 penalty
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
An individual has been convicted after transporting schoolchildren on behalf of a school transport service in Carmarthenshire while not holding the required taxi driver’s licence.
At Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on 17 April 2026, David Rhydian Thomas, was found guilty of conveying children on a school transport route on five occasions between 1 October and 8 October 2025.
The offences involved driving a licensed private hire vehicle without holding a valid Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence.
The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council, which argued that Thomas had operated a licensed vehicle despite not being authorised to do so under local licensing regulations. The case centred on journeys involving the transportation of schoolchildren, an area of passenger transport subject to enhanced scrutiny due to safeguarding responsibilities.
School transport cabbie fined more than £2,600 after repeatedly driving a licensed private hire vehicle without the required driver licence
The court heard that Thomas had previously received a formal warning from the council on 15 October 2024 after being found driving a licensed vehicle while unlicensed. Despite that warning, further offences were committed less than a year later.
Thomas pleaded guilty by post. Magistrates imposed a fine of £666 and ordered him to pay a Victim Surcharge of £266. He was also directed to pay prosecution costs of £1,762, bringing the total financial penalty to £2,694.
Carmarthenshire County Council said the prosecution reflected its commitment to enforcing licensing requirements, particularly where school transport is involved. Local authorities increasingly view licensing compliance as a key part of safeguarding measures designed to protect vulnerable passengers, including children travelling to and from school.
Councillor Aled Vaughan Owen, Cabinet Member with responsibility for enforcement at Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “The safety of children and the wider public is our absolute priority. Licensed drivers are required to meet strict standards designed to protect passengers, particularly when transporting school children.
“This case sends a clear message that we take breaches of licensing regulations very seriously and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where necessary.”
