A MAN from Oxford has been ordered to pay more than £1,800 after being found guilty of failing to disclose a series of previous driving convictions when applying for a taxi driver’s licence.

Samir Gaid, 47, from Headley Way, Oxford, appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Monday February 1. He was found guilty of knowingly or recklessly making a false statement or omitting any material particular in giving information when making his application for a hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence.

Magistrates heard how Gaid had attempted to apply for a driver’s licence from Vale of White Horse District Council in January 2020.

When Gaid submitted his application form, he should have disclosed details of any previous convictions, including those which would normally be considered spent.

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The court heard that this is a requirement for all those who wish to drive licensed vehicles to make sure they are fit and proper to hold a licence and it is highlighted clearly during the application process.

However, licensing officers carried out background checks and discovered that Gaid had failed to disclose that his driver’s licence had already been revoked by the council in November 2015. He had also failed to inform the council that he had received penalty points on his DVLA licence in 2010 and 2015, prior to those currently on his DVLA record, and that he had a previous conviction for plying for hire and driving without insurance.

When officers became aware of Gaid’s attempted deception, and the potential risk to public safety, they immediately put his application on hold and passed the case over to the council’s Legal team for prosecution. In court, District Judge Rana heard the evidence and found Gaid was guilty of this offence. Gaid was fined £300 and ordered to pay £1,500 towards the prosecution costs and a £32 victim surcharge.