Drive-ban councillor n court on car charges

A member of Wyre Forest District Council has appeared before Kidderminster Magistrates Court charged with motoring offences.

Syed Mumshad Ahmed, aged 35, of Hurcott Road, Kidderminster, is charged with driving a BMW 320 car, registration MM51 HAD, on Mill Street in Kidderminster, on May 14 while disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence.

He faces a similar charge of driving along Baxter Avenue on May 14 and a third offence of driving on Mill Street the same day without insurance.

All three offences are contrary to the Road Traffic Act of 1988.

He appeared before Kidderminster Magistrates yesterday after the case was adjourned from May 15.

Ahmed, a Conservative member of Wyre Forest District Council who was also last week elected as a member of Worcestershire County Council, spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Chairman of the bench Mr Tim Morris told the court Ahmed "was known to himself and many other people in the community" and because of these connections the case was transferred to Redditch Magistrates Court.

Prosecuting Mr Thomas Busby said that he had "no objection" to the case being transferred to Redditch.

Ahmed was remanded on bail to appear at Redditch Magistrates Court on June 17.