Former taxi driver convicted after offering unlicensed private hire service

A former taxi driver, Jamie Rimmer, has been found guilty of operating private hire services without the necessary licences.

Trading under "Egremont Cabs", Rimmer conducted unlicensed taxi services on two occasions in November 2023.

Rimmer failed to attend his hearing at Workington Magistrates’ Court on 22 May. In his absence, he was convicted of performing private hire work without both a taxi driver's licence and a vehicle licence.

The court imposed a fine of £1,320 on Rimmer. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £220 and legal costs amounting to £350, bringing the total financial penalty to £1,890. 

Graeme Wilson, Cumberland Council’s Assistant Director of Public Health and Protection, said: “Our regulatory services teams are there to ensure the safety of residents. We always look to work with businesses to help them understand and comply with the regulations. However, there are times when we have to take enforcement action, such as in this situation, which I’m pleased to see was successful. If anyone has any concerns about a taxi service, they should contact our taxi licensing teams on 0300 373 3730.”