A "silly" taxi driver tried to pin a speeding fine on an 18-year-old girl who had left her licence in the back of a cab.

Umar Sattar, 35, had been caught speeding at 48mph in a 40mph zone when was driving a fare to Wakefield Train Station on November 12. He received a notice of intended prosecution but identified the driver at the time as an Alice Brown, with a Heckmondwike address.

Prosecutor Joseph Bell told Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday: "The court papers were sent but she didn't live there and didn't get them. She was fined £220 at Bradford Magistrates' Court as well as a victim surcharge and costs.

"It wasn't until June last year when she was chased about the money owed that she found out."

Ms Brown told her mum, who spoke to the court and the issue was chased up. It was confirmed Sattar, of Pioneer Street, Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury, was the driver through records held by the taxi office.

The court heard that Ms Brown had left her provisional driving licence in a taxi in February 2022 and it had been "circulating" around the taxi community since.

Mr Bell said: "On the 5th of July last year he [Sattar] was interviewed and already he had done it and said he already had six points on his licence and didn't want anymore. He spoke to someone who said he could sort it out for him and gave them the notice of intended prosecution. He refused to name who it was.

"He said he was sorry and was being silly and just wanted to keep his taxi licence."

Sattar went on to admit perverting the course of justice.

His Honour Judge Stubbs KC said Ms Brown's identity had been used for another notice of intended prosecution. He said: "It [the licence] was used for a protracted amount of time and it does have the hallmarks of being sophisticated and planned."

Mr Bell said: "The conviction [against Ms Brown] has been overturned."

Mitigating, Samuel Panniah told the court: "The defendant - by his own actions - has created a situation where this is going to be a significantly more punitive element than if he just owned up. He has demonstrated clear remorse for this offence."

The court heard the dad-of-two cares for both his mum and dad and took work as a taxi driver so he could work flexible shifts which would help with his responsibilities.

Judge Stubbs handed Sattar a sentence of 10 months suspended for a year. He told him he must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £500 and said: "Her [Ms Brown's] licence had circulated in the taxi community...She had a provisional licence...You got away Scott free."

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/taxi-driver-tried-dodge-speeding-28668130