Cab driver who blamed speeding on wife drops appeal

A taxi driver who said his wife had been driving when he was caught speeding has withdrawn an appeal to keep his licence.

Gebrebrahan Nayzgi was a registered private hire driver in Bradford when his cab was recorded speeding on the M1 near Sheffield on 26 May.

When contacted about the incident, Nayzgi, of Lincoln Green, Leeds, told police that his wife was responsible in a bid to avoid the penalty points.

It was despite his wife not having a taxi licence or a driving licence, which police uncovered, leading to Nayzgi eventually admitting he had been the driver.

Bradford Council subsequently revoked his permit, with taxi licensing officers feeling the incident showed he was not a "fit and proper person" to hold a licence.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the taxi driver decided to appeal the decision in November, telling Bradford Magistrates' Court that he intended to prove he was a fit and proper person in a hearing that was set for 16 January.

However, at the court on Friday, magistrates were told that Nayzgi had now dropped that appeal, meaning the revocation of his licence would stand.

He was ordered to pay the council's costs, amounting to £220 and the court heard he would not be pursued with further legal action.

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