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Driving ban for taxi driver who worked illegally during Henley Regatta

A private hire driver has been handed a four-month driving ban and ordered to pay over £2,700 in fines and costs after being caught operating illegally during the 2024 Henley Regatta.

Following a trial at Oxford Magistrates Court on 10 March 2025, Wasif Butt, 41, of Cholmeley Road, Reading, was found guilty of unlawfully plying for hire and operating without valid insurance.

The District Judge heard how officers from South Oxfordshire District Council work in Henley during the annual Regatta to identify and prevent out of area drivers (not licensed to operate in South Oxfordshire) coming into Henley and picking people up without a booking being in place.

On July 5 2024, undercover licensing officers from South Oxfordshire District Council and Reading Borough Council spotted Wasif Butt, a private hire driver licensed by Fareham Borough Council, parked illegally on New Street. During a test purchase, Mr. Butt agreed to transport the officers to Reading for £50, significantly higher than the usual £27-29 fare for a journey in a hackney carriage licensed in South Oxfordshire.

As a private hire driver without a booking, Mr Butt was not permitted to pick people up off the street like this and, by doing so, he invalidated his insurance.

Cllr Georgina Heritage, Cabinet Member for Communities at South Oxfordshire District Council, stated: “This case highlights the consequences for drivers who flout licensing laws and prioritise profits over public safety. Public safety is our top priority and we will not tolerate anyone who puts passengers at risk in an untraceable and uninsured journey.

“Thank you to officers at Reading Borough Council for their assistance with this prosecution and working with us in helping to keep people safe during the Regatta.”

Members of the public are urged to only use properly licensed taxis and pre-booked private hire vehicles to ensure their safety and the legality of their journeys.

South Oxfordshire District Council is committed to ensuring that only properly vetted and authorised drivers operate in South Oxfordshire.  For more information about taxi licensing in South Oxfordshire, please visit southoxon.gov.uk/licensing.

Notes for editors:

Drivers engaging in illegal activities face prosecution, substantial fines, potential licence revocation and driving bans.

Mr. Butt’s case has been referred to Fareham Borough Council for further action regarding his licences.

Penalties imposed on Mr. Butt were

  • A four-month driving disqualification, effective immediately
  • A £400 fine for unlawful plying for hire
  • A £500 fine for operating without insurance
  • A £360 victim surcharge
  • £1,500 in prosecution costs