Doncaster taxi driver jailed for heroin charges and another who fell asleep at the wheel refused new licences

A taxi driver who lost his licence after falling asleep at the wheel also failed in his bid to get a new one.

Attiq Mohammed, aged 43, of Elmfield Road, Hyde Park applied to Doncaster Council for a new licence in March 2015.

The authority refused citing his previous character and conviction history.

Mohammed appealed to magistrates on November 26 who heard that his licence was originally revoked after he was imprisoned in 2003 for 8 years for Possession of Heroin with intent to supply.

The court also heard that Mohammed was convicted of Battery in 2012 and disqualified from driving in 2013 following a number of motoring offences. His appeal was dismissed.

At the same sitting, 49 year old Jasbir Singh of Tickhill Road, Balby also appealed to magistrates over the council’s decision to withdraw his licence.

Singh, who worked for Alpha Minicabs, was falling asleep at the wheel during a journey from Doncaster to Thorne in the early hours of 2 August 2015.

The journey ended when his private hire vehicle collided with a central reservation in Moorends.

Councillor Chris McGuinness, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “It is essential that the public have complete confidence in our taxi drivers.

“Doncaster Council takes appropriate measures to ensure that our taxi drivers are safe and trustworthy, and is prepared to revoke or refuse a licence in order to keep the public safe.

“We are pleased to see that once again the courts have supported our decisions. The vast majority of drivers are decent, law abiding people who work very hard to provide a good service to their customers.”