Taxi driver 'showed porn film to passengers'

A taxi driver who illegally picked up passengers and then proceeded to play a porn film in the back of his vehicle has been fined.

Unbeknown to Shaukat Ali Afsar he had picked up two enforcement officers clamping down on illegal taxi practices.

During the journey the pair were invited to watch a DVD porn film on a TV screen inside his vehicle.

When they arrived at the nightclub, police and Leeds City Council officials were waiting.

At Leeds Magistrates Court Afsar was fined £250, given six points on his licence and ordered to pay £400 costs.

Afsar, 45, of Duchy Drive, Heaton, Bradford, admitted illegally plying for hire, driving without insurance, displaying pornographic images and driving while a TV screen was in his vision.

The court heard that Afsar, who had been a taxi driver for 20 years, was immediately suspended by the council following the incident on November 28 last year. His licence has been revoked.

Afsar could have lost his licence as he already has points but magistrates accepted his claims that he would loose his livelihood.

The court was told he did not realise that a pornographic film would play and would have instantly switched off the film if it appeared his passengers were offended.