Leeds cabbie barred after calls on phone stolen from policem

Leeds cabbie barred after calls on phone stolen from policeman

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Leeds-cabbie-barred-after-calls.5143987.jp




By Richard Edwards
A cabbie has been barred from the roads after costly long distance calls were made on a phone stolen from a DETECTIVE.
Leeds magistrates heard that private hire driver Shajaa Aslam, of Armley, Leeds, ran up a bill of £370 by ringing Pakistan.

The court heard he dialled the numbers using a mobile phone, left in the back of his car by an off-duty detective constable who had been to watch Leeds Rhinos before visiting the team's supporters' club.

Magistrates were told that police used the destination of the calls to trace them back to Aslam.

He was arrested, and, after he admitted taking the handset, was cautioned for theft.

But the 28-year-old breached his private hire licence by failing to tell Leeds City Council of the caution.

The licence was revoked, and, on Friday, Aslam was due to appear before magistrates to appeal for it to be returned.

Minutes before the hearing was due to start, the father-of-three instructed his solicitor, Clive Bergen, to withdraw the appeal.

He cannot now apply for the licence to be returned for at least three years.

Andrew Vickers, representing the council, told the bench that Aslam's brother had admitted the theft, and had planned to give evidence supporting his sibling.

But Mr Vickers said: "He still had not reported the caution."
Mr Bergen said his client had found the phone in the back of his vehicle when he finished work at 4.30am.

"He did not know who it belonged to," Mr Bergen said.

"He took it into his house to take it into the private hire office the following day. Unfortunately a family member took the phone, used it to ring Pakistan and then denied taking it.

"My information is that he was given information by the officers that if he accepted the caution that would be the end of the matter and it would not affect his licence."

Mr Bergen said Aslam, whose wife is expecting the couple's fourth child, had been a private hire driver for six years.

"He has learned a very harsh lesson," he added.

The court ordered Aslam to contribute £250 towards the costs of bringing the case.

I'm not a racist, but calling long distance like that takes the****