Taxi driver stripped of licence and forced to pay £2,000 in fees for breaking rules on M25

A taxi driver, who was caught using a mobile phone while behind the wheel on the M25, has been stripped of his licence and ordered to pay £2,000 in court fees.

The driver of a private hire vehicle in Ashford was caught on his phone in November 2025 by Surrey Police and subsequently lost his licence.

Since the driver fought the case, an appeal process was launched with Ashford Borough Council, which announced that it had successfully defended its decision to revoke the licence of the driver.

Folkestone Magistrates' Court dismissed the appeal, arguing that public safety must remain the "overriding consideration" in all taxi licensing decisions.

In the UK, drivers caught using devices while travelling can be slapped with a £200 fine and issued six penalty points on a driving licence.

But if the case goes to court, it could result in driving disqualification and fines of up to £1,000, or £2,500 for lorries or buses.

Ashford Borough Council explained that it launched a full investigation into the dangerous driving case and ultimately determined that the driver no longer met the requirement to be a "fit and proper person" to hold a private hire driver's licence.

The driver saw his licence revoked with immediate effect, but appealed, given it was his main source of income.

While the court acknowledged the personal impact of having a licence taken away, the authority confirmed that the decision must be based solely on considerations of public safety.

Under these terms, it superseded any circumstances or livelihood factors that can lawfully be taken into account in line with existing case law.

The council's policy detailed: "The licensing authority provides information to the National Register of Taxi Licence Refusals and Revocations (NR3), a mechanism for licensing authorities to share details of individuals who have had a hackney carriage or Private Hire Vehicle licence revoked, or an application for one refused.

"Where a hackney carriage/PHV licence is revoked, or an application for one refused, the authority will automatically record this decision on NR3. All applications for a new licence or licence renewal will automatically be checked on NR3."

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The appeal was dismissed this week, and the driver was ordered to pay £2,000 towards the council's costs in defending the appeal.

Councillor Katrina Giles, Cabinet Member for Communities and Health at Ashford Borough Council, explained that residents expect drivers of licensed vehicles to always operate safely.

She warned that the council has a "clear duty to ensure that all licensed drivers meet the 'fit and proper person' test".

Councillor Giles added: "This case demonstrates that we will act decisively where standards fall short, particularly where road safety is concerned. Using a handheld mobile phone while driving is both dangerous and unlawful, and it will not be tolerated within the licensed trade in Ashford."

The council had a similar licence issue in 2024, when a private hire driver lost his appeal against being stripped of his licence due to being the "most complained about driver".

The driver was found to be using rude and abusive language and behaviour towards customers, security staff on NHS premises, and civil enforcement officers.

He also refused fares to people and conducted poor driving standards, including driving without due care and attention.

The court dismissed the appeal, with the driver ordered to pay £4,000 to the council within 28 days.