
A Cheltenham man who continued to pick up passengers despite having his licence revoked has been ordered to pay over £2,000 following a successful prosecution by Gloucester City Council.
Samir Jamshidi pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court to operating a private hire vehicle without a licence and driving without insurance between May 9 and June 1, 2025.
The court heard that Jamshidi completed multiple journeys for a private hire operator during this period, even though his hackney carriage driver’s licence had already been stripped by a neighbouring local authority.
The investigation, led by the council’s licensing team with support from the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit, highlighted a serious breach of public trust.
Councillor Rebecca Trimnell, cabinet member for communities, emphasised that the city has a zero-tolerance policy toward those who bypass safety regulations. "Gloucester City Council is committed to ensuring the safety of passengers and the legality of hackney carriage and private hire services in our community," Cllr Trimnell stated.
"This successful prosecution sends a very clear message that we will not tolerate illegal activity in our city and will take decisive action to protect Gloucester residents and visitors."
The financial penalties for the illegal operation far outweighed the earnings from the unauthorised journeys. Jamshidi was hit with:
£120 fine for the offences.
£2,008.60 in prosecution costs.
£48 victim surcharge.
In addition to the financial burden, the court endorsed Jamshidi’s driving record with eight DVLA penalty points, a move that significantly impacts his future eligibility for any professional driving role.

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