Cabbie banned in drink-drive shame

An Oldham taxi driver has been prosecuted for drink-driving.

Raziq Hussain (32), of Eastbourne Street, admitted driving with excess alcohol and was banned from driving for 16 months in a Manchester court yesterday.

Hussain was driving a Hackney cab in Collyhurst in the early hours of December 19 when cut a corner and drove on the wrong side of the road. Then he was seen weaving along Oldham Road before being stopped by police.

He was initially recorded with double the legal limit of alcohol on his breath, and told officers he had been working since 6pm and hadn’t had any alcohol since.

Sergeant Matt Bailey-Smith said: “We roundly condemn anyone who risks their own life and the lives of others by getting behind the wheel while drunk. The significant aggravating factor in this case is Hussain’s profession.

“His actions were reckless and risked the safety of every fare.”