A TAXI driver from Keighley must pay a council £1,000 after an appeal against his licence being revoked was unsuccessful.

Sharaz Hussain, 41, of Manor Road, learned the decision at York Magistrates' Court.

The 41-year-old had his hackney carriage driver's licence revoked on October 1, 2021, by Craven Council.

This was due to Hussain driving his taxi without a valid MOT certificate even though he knew it had failed and an "unacceptable" attitude, according to a spokesperson for the local authority.

The spokesperson said: "Mr Hussain drove the vehicle without a valid MOT certificate knowing that it had failed.

"A vehicle check sheet provided to assist in ensuring that the public is driven in safe and appropriate vehicles was not being used.

"In addition, throughout the investigation, Mr Hussain's attitude towards Craven District Council's licensing officers had been unacceptable.

"In general terms Mr Hussain appeared to show 'a lack of regard' for the regulations that applied to him as a licensed driver."

Hussain lodged an appeal to the courts against the decision on December 17 last year.

A driver can appeal a district council's decision under the same law that the local authority may use to suspend, revoke or refuse the renewal of the licence – the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

Court records show Hussain's appeal was dismissed at the hearing, upholding the decision made by Craven Council's licensing and appeals sub-committee.

Hussain appeared at York Magistrates' Court for the contested appeal hearing.

He has now been ordered by the courts to pay £1,000 to Craven Council for costs relating to the case.

Speaking after the court result, Councillor Simon Myers – Craven Council's chair of the licensing committee – said: "We are pleased that the decision to revoke the licence was upheld.

"We are determined to ensure that the public is protected and can feel safe when using taxis in Craven."

Craven Council has a public register of all the hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, hackney carriage, private hire and combined drivers, and private hire operators that are licensed with the local authority.

There are 16 private hire operators on the list, 217 drivers and 263 vehicles.

There are also three Craven Council taxi ranks – at Swadford Street, Waller Hill car park and Sackville Street, all in Skipton – which provide the public with a set location where they can hire a fully licensed taxi.