Convicted taxi drivers lose cabbie licence

TWO taxi drivers have been handed a second punishment — after receiving convictions.

Private hire driver, Shazad Bashir (35) of St Thomas Street North, Coppice, has had his licence revoked by Oldham Council’s licensing panel, after he was convicted of driving with excess alcohol and driving while disqualified. Hackney carriage driver, Mohammed Ali (27) of Windsor Road, Oldham, is suspended following a conviction for theft of diesel.

Both drivers have 21 days to appeal against the panel’s decision.

Councillor Val Sedgwick, chairman of the licensing panel, said: “When members of the public get in a Hackney carriage or a private hire vehicle they need to know the driver is a trustworthy individual.

“The safety of our citizens is paramount and we will not hesitate to take action against people who are found to have broken the law.”