A WAVERLEY cabbie has been fined more than £750 after taking an impromptu fare from a member of the Guildford Borough Council licensing team.

The un-named taxi driver, who is licensed by Waverley Borough Council, was parked on the taxi rank outside Marks and Spencer in North Street, Guildford at 1.15pm on April 21, when he agreed to take the Guildford council worker on a journey which was not pre-booked.

As a taxi licensed by Waverley Borough Council can only ply or stand for hire in the Borough of Waverley, this is an offence under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847.

The cabbie was found guilty in his absence at Guildford Magistrates’ Court on September 6, and fined £440, ordered to pay costs of £275.30 and a victim surcharge of £44 - resulting in a total fine of £759.30.

Graham Ellwood, Guildford’s lead councillor for licensing and community safety said: “I’m delighted with the outcome of this successful prosecution. This follows other recent successful actions we have taken which have come about from the work carried out by our licensing officers.

“What I believe this case demonstrates is that we are working to protect the public by ensuring that only taxis licensed by Guildford Borough Council operate in the town centre and across the borough.”