A fake taxi driver from Handsworth was caught by police after his passengers revealed they had never met him before. Mohammed Ramzan, 38, was stopped on Corporation Street in Birmingham city centre in December last year. He claimed to officers he was driving friends around, but passengers confirmed they did not know him and had jumped into his vehicle believing it was a taxi.
Court Proceedings
A search of Ramzan's property uncovered a letter from Wolverhampton Council stating his taxi licence had been revoked. He pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without a licence at Birmingham Magistrates' Court. Ramzan already had 11 points on his licence, meaning he faced a driving ban. The Chair of the Bench told him: 'You are going to become a 'totter'... The total you will have is 14.'
Driver's Statement
Ramzan, who is on Universal Credit, said: 'I'm remorseful. I'm trying to become a carer for my elderly parents.' He plans to make an 'exceptional hardship claim' to challenge the ban, though magistrates warned the bar was 'exceptionally high'. The case was adjourned until February 10 next year.
