UNLICENSED SCHOOL RUNS: Gloucester driver prosecuted for unlicensed and uninsured private hire work
- Perry Richardson
- 20 minutes ago
- 1 min read
A Gloucester private hire driver has been prosecuted for operating without a valid licence or insurance.
Moosa Varachhia was found to have driven a private hire vehicle on several occasions between April and May 2024 without the required private hire driver licence. He also had no valid insurance while carrying out contracted home-to-school journeys for a local private hire operator.
The case was heard at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on 12 May 2025. Mr Varachhia pleaded guilty to both offences. He told the court he believed the renewal of his licence was being handled by Tewkesbury Borough Council while he was out of the country.
Mr Varachhia was fined £180. He was also ordered to pay £175 in court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.
The enforcement action was led by Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Licensing team. The investigation was supported by the council’s Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit and One Legal, which provides legal services across four Gloucestershire councils.
Mr Varachhia is no longer employed as a private hire driver after being disqualified from driving in April 2025.
Cllr Murray Stewart, Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Lead Member for Environmental Services, said: “All licensed drivers undergo thorough checks, both at renewal and throughout the duration of their licence, to ensure they are fit and proper to continue to hold a licence and to ensure public safety. This is especially important for those drivers transporting children.
“If we can’t carry out all of these checks, we can’t ensure a driver is suitable to continue to hold a licence, which is why it is so important for companies to ensure they only operate fully licensed vehicles and drivers.”
