£1,200 bill for Staffordshire cabbie in illegal pick-up

K Cabs driver Philip Lockley was found guilty of plying for hire illegally when he agreed to take undercover police and council officers to the Darlaston Inn in Stone.

He was also convicted of not having insurance when he appeared before magistrates in Cannock on June 3. He had denied the offences.

Lockley, aged 58, of Newcastle Road, Stone, was given fines totalling £575 and ordered to pay £600 in costs as well as a £37 victim surcharge. His driving licence was also endorsed with six points.

The court heard that the officers were in Station Road, Stone, when they asked the driver of a vehicle displaying the K Cabs logo to take them to the pub. They were told it would be a £5 fare.

Drivers who do not have a hackney carriage licence can pick up only passengers who have booked in advance. It is illegal for them to collect customers in the street or from a taxi rank.

The 'Safer Nights' operation aims to reduce the risks to residents of uninsured and unsafe vehicles on the roads in the borough.

After the hearing, Councillor Frank Finlay said: "We are determined to clamp down on drivers who stick two fingers up at the law by picking up customers when they are not entitled to by law.

"One of our top priorities is the health and wellbeing of our community, and this operation aims to protect the public as they are at risk, because these vehicles will not be insured if they are picking up passengers in this way."

Councillor Finlay added that along with having to pay fines and costs, points on a driver's licence can make insurance cover more expensive.

There have been a number of successful prosecutions over the last few months following the joint operation by the police and council.