A STOURBRIDGE taxi driver twice caught illegally plying for trade has lost an appeal against his private hire ban.

Dudley Council revoked Abdul Ghafoor’s licence for a conviction of plying for hire in October this year, nine years after his first conviction for the same offence.

Ghafoor, aged 54, of New Farm Road, appealed against the council’s decision at Halesowen magistrates court.

The court ruled in favour of the council’s decision to revoke Ghafoor’s private hire licence after his second conviction.

Councillor Doreen Ameson, chair of Dudley's taxis committee, said: “Protection of paying members of the public is paramount and taxi drivers should know the rules.

“We take this offence extremely seriously and will not hesitate to revoke a licence where drivers fail to learn from their first offence.”