Hemsworth taxi firm owner fined by Leeds Magistrates Court after employing unlicensed driver

The owner of a taxi company has been fined after admitting employing an unlicensed driver.
Leeds Magistrates CourtLeeds Magistrates Court
Leeds Magistrates Court

Debra Tingey, who runs 001 Cars in Hemsworth, pleaded guilty to three charges at Leeds Magistrates Court last week.

The firm, which also trades under the name Tingey Cars, had employed 53 year-old Keith Walker as a driver, even though he did not have a private hire licence.

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Wakefield Council said Walker, of Lodge Street in Hemsworth, was seen driving a private hire vehicle with passengers from Kinsley to South Kirkby.

Tingey, of Woodmoor Road in Hemsworth, pleaded guilty to operated a vehicle with an unlicensed driver, employing an unlicensed driver and allowing the use of an unlicensed vehicle when no insurance was in force.

She was fined £460, ordered to pay costs and banned from driving for six months.

Walker pleaded guilty by post and will be sentenced later this month.

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Speaking after the case, Councillor Maureen Cummings, portfolio holder for the environment, said: "The court said these were very serious offences.

"Mrs Tingey holds a position of responsibility within the company and the behaviour involved breaches public safety by allowing Mr Walker, an unlicensed and uninsured driver, to operate within the business.

"Our priority, as a council, is to keep the public safe and this case should send out a firm message to everyone that this behaviour will never be tolerated.”

Coun Cummings said the local authority's licensing committee would now decide whether or not to revoke the company's operator licence.

Local Democracy Reporting Service