A CABBIE in Burnley has been fined £600 after he picked up a passenger off the street without the journey being booked beforehand.

An undercover operation caught out Zahid Nadeem, 47, as his fare was a plain-clothes police officer who had set out to catch private hire drivers illegally plying for trade, Burnley magistrates were told.

Nadeem, of Colne Road, Burnley, who did not attend court, was convicted of plying for hire without a licence in his absence and was also ordered to pay £210 in costs and a victim surcharge.

Eight penalty points were also imposed on his driving licence for a no insurance offence.

Speaking after the case, Coun Tony Harrison, community services executive member, said: “Private hire drivers aren’t allowed to pick up passengers without the journey being pre-booked. If they do the car isn’t insured and passengers are put at risk.”