A TAXI driver from Accrington has had his conviction for illegally plying for hire in a private hire vehicle overturned.

Mohammed Aftab, from China Street, was ordered to pay out more than £700 by magistrates in October, including £190 in fines, £20 in victim surcharge, and £500 in prosecution costs.

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However, Hyndburn Council’s solicitor Gordon McMillan has now said in a report, set to go before councillors on Monday: “Mr Aftab appealed against his conviction, which was quashed by the crown court on January 15.

“Unlike the magistrates, the court court accepted it was possible that Mr Aftab had accepted passengers in the mistaken belief they were the customers who had booked his vehicle from a nearby location.

“As there was a reasonable doubt about the commission of an offence, the case could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt.”