Midlands taxi scam uncovered after vulnerable passengers 'put at risk'

Two Staffordshire taxi scam operators have been convicted after being found to put vulnerable passengers in uninsured cars driven by unlicensed cabbies. The scam taxi operation was being run in Burntwood and was uncovered when Lichfield District Council licensing officers stopped a car in the town in January this year.

Inside they found a passenger with a carer who booked the cab believing it to be a genuine taxi. But the car was not insured and the car and driver did not have taxi licences.

An investigation found BP Cars, which was licensed by the district council, had been passing on jobs to the unlicensed and uninsured driver, Craig Matthews. BP Cars appeared before the council’s licensing committee where councillors revoked the licence.

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The 54-year-old, of Coppice Lane in Burntwood, appeared at Cannock Magistrates’ Court, alongside the taxi operator, Brian Peasley, of New Plant Lane in Burntwood, on Tuesday (November 5). They pleaded guilty to a range of taxi licensing, fraud and driving offences. But both escaped jail terms.

Matthews was given a 12-month conditional discharge and received six points on his licence. He was also ordered to pay costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £26. Peasley, 77, was also given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £26.

Cabinet Member Councillor Alex Farrell said: “Motivated by greed, two men put an unknown number of local people at risk through their disgraceful conduct. This scam saw passengers, including the vulnerable, being taken on journeys in an unlicensed and uninsured vehicle that had not met the safety standards required of a taxi.

“And by a driver who was unlicensed and had therefore not had criminal record or medical fitness checks. Both men now have a criminal record and will not be able to obtain a taxi licence in the UK. Taxi drivers and operators hold considerable responsibility and we expect the very highest of standards from them.”

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A spokesman for Lichfield District Council added: “To avoid becoming the victim of this kind of scam licensing officers are advising people that before getting into any taxi, they should:

• Check the taxi licence plate on the back of the vehicle

• Check the driver is wearing an identification badge.”