Former private hire driver made 543 illegal journeys after licence revoked
- Perry Richardson
- Mar 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 30
A former private hire driver who continued working illegally after having his licence revoked has been fined £1,557 and handed eight penalty points.
Abdul Musaher, 35, appeared at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court on 18 March where he admitted to driving a licensed taxi vehicle despite no longer holding a valid licence.
The case followed a request from South Yorkshire Police, who asked local licensing officers to help identify the driver of a vehicle caught speeding on the M1. Musaher was named by the vehicle’s owner but falsely identified another person as the driver to avoid penalty points.
Musaher had previously been licensed by the council as a private hire driver, but his licence was revoked in 2021 after it emerged he was under investigation by Humberside Police.
North Lincolnshire Council Licensing officers later attended the office of Ashby Cars Ltd, where Musaher was employed. Records showed he had continued to take bookings and completed 543 journeys after his licence had been revoked.
Each journey was in breach of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and would have been uninsured under the Road Traffic Act 1988.
In court, Musaher admitted both the unauthorised journeys and lying to police. His eight penalty points pushed him to a total of 17—above the limit for disqualification. However, magistrates allowed him to continue driving due to family circumstances.
Ashby Cars Ltd also faced enforcement. Following a separate investigation, the company’s Private Hire Operator’s Licence was revoked, along with all vehicle licences linked to the firm.
Councillor Carl Sherwood, cabinet member for North Lincolnshire Council licensing, said: “This irresponsible and illegal behaviour will not be tolerated, as it leaves people at risk through uninsured journeys and breaks trust and confidence in our responsible businesses.
“The council has clear expectations and high-quality standards, which we will enforce as necessary, to make sure that our communities can safely and confidently travel across North Lincolnshire.
“Licensing will continue to act against unsuitable drivers and unlicensed activity, to ensure that public safety is not compromised.”
