A rogue and unlicensed Wigan taxi driver who was caught-out after crashing his car in a furniture store has been slapped with a £400 fine and given 12 penalty points.
Unscrupulous Darren Gallagher had worked without a licence for FIVE months before he failed to apply his handbrake properly and his car ploughed into Suzy’s Furniture Store, Pemberton in May 2013.
Gallagher had failed to renew his licence – which had expired in December 2012 – and pleaded guilty at Wigan Magistrates court to two offences of using a motor vehicle without insurance and two counts of driving without a private hire driver’s licence.
Wigan Council’s Trading Standards manager, Julie Middlehurst, said: “We take this kind of offence very seriously.
“It’s clear that the driver was not licensed to pick passengers up in any way shape or form. It’s important the public have confidence in the borough’s taxi drivers and driving without insurance and a valid taxi licence is totally unacceptable.
“Also it’s only fair to the majority of taxi drivers who do play by the rules that we take action against those who don’t.”
Image courtesy of nolene dowdall, with thanks
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