Crime & Safety
Oxfordshire taxi driver caught illegally using licence
Stuart Thomas Sharp, of Meadow View Road, Kennington, was sentenced at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Friday, April 24.
The 54-year-old pleaded guilty for fraud and insurance offences after forging licence documents to continue working.
The court heard that Mr Sharp forged his own licence documents, including his taxi licence, badge and vehicle plate, and presented them to a taxi operator as evidence that he was licensed when he was not.
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Councillor Helen Pighills, cabinet member for community health and wellbeing at Vale of White Horse, said: “This case shows a clear attempt to undermine public safety, the licensing regime and bypass important safety checks.
When later asked to return the documents to the council, he claimed he had thrown them away.
The court heard that in May 2025, the council received information from a member of the public that a person they’d had an altercation with some months earlier had subsequently been seen as a “taxi driver”.
Mr Sharp had been seen picking up and dropping off a passenger at Radley College and were able to identify the registration number and licence plate number of the vehicle.
The vehicle was also displaying a roof sign which identified it as a ‘taxi’.
He was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.
His DVLA licence was also endorsed with eight penalty points for driving without insurance.
Mr Sharp was also required to pay a victim surcharge of £156 and a contribution towards costs of £900, totalling £1056 and comply with a rehabilitation activity requirement.
Vale of White Horse District Council guidance states licensed taxis and private hire vehicles in the district should display a council-issued licence plate on the rear of the cab.
It also states that the drivers must wear the official badge at all times.
Furthermore, customers are advised to book through a licensed operator and to never accept offers from un-booked vehicles.
A spokesperson for the council said: “If you suspect a taxi is operating illegally, please report it immediately to Vale of White Horse District Council’s Licensing Team.
“Call 01235 422556, email licensing.unit@whitehorsedc.gov.uk or visit whitehorsedc.gov.uk/taxis-and-private-hire.”
It comes after a man in his mid-60s claims he was punched by a taxi driver as he walked into Summertown Library to use the computers on March 23.
This was allegedly after he confronted the driver for parking in a disabled bay without a Blue Badge.
A statement from Oxford City Council said: “We have received a report and are working jointly with Thames Valley Police to investigate this in line with council policy and enforcement procedures.”
Thames Valley Police said in a major update on Tuesday, May 12 that the force’s Abingdon neighbourhood team had not only arrested a man for immigration offences, but seized an uninsured scooted and recalled a prolific offender to prison.
A spokesperson said: “PC Hackett and Sgt Birch also arrested a male for immigration offences and seized an uninsured e-scooter under Section 165 after coming across a boy riding it.”
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They added: “In Abingdon, PC Osborne worked closely with probation services to recall a prolific offender to prison.
“After being spotted in the area, officers acted swiftly and he has now been returned to custody.”
In addition the team attended the Marcham Big Weekend and addressed reports of damage and anti-social behaviour at the multi-use games area.
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They spokesperson said: “They have also been carrying out patrols in Sutton Courtenay, Boars Hill, Wootton, and Drayton, addressing reports of anti-social driving and youth-related damage at the MUGA.”
The officers at the Abingdon Neighbourhood Police team added that they would be at the new Marks & Spencer store in Fairacres, meeting members of the public, on Friday, May 15 at noon.
The spokesperson said: “We look forward to seeing you there.”
Thames Valley Police has said that the man in his 30s was taken into custody after an incident at a Tesco store in Botley.
In an update on Tuesday, May 12, the force revealed that they were called after reports of a smashed window as well as shoplifting and racially abusive behaviour.
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The man has since been charged and bailed to appear at court.
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “PC Murphy and PC Osborne have arrested a man in his 30s following shoplifting, assault, and racially abusive behaviour towards staff at Tesco in Botley.
“Officers responded to reports of disorder, including a smashed window, quickly located the suspect, and made an arrest.
“He has since been charged and bailed to appear at court, with the case also being reviewed by the Crown Prosecution Service.”
Police also revealed that they had been patrolling Didcot at night and have seized an uninsured e-scooter.
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“During Night Time Economy patrols in Didcot,” the Thames Valley Police spokesperson said, “PC Murphy seized an uninsured e-scooter, helping to keep our pavements safer”.
The officers at the Abingdon Neighbourhood Police team added that they would be at the new Marks & Spencer store in Fairacres meeting members of the public on Friday May 15 at midday.
The spokesperson said: “We look forward to seeing you there.”
The 45-year-old grew up in Oxfordshire after moving from London with his parents, including his father, Dr James Hiddleston, who often liaised with Oxford University.
Living in a village just outside the city, Mr Hiddleston studied at The Dragon School, where Harry Potter actress Emma Watson attended some years later.
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Best known for playing Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the role has seen him star in both the Thor and Avengers film franchises, as well as a Disney+ series based on Loki.
According to The Sun, the actor was “gutted” to miss out on the fun as a huge fan of the show which returns this autumn with Claudia Winkleman back at the helm.
It is understood he had to drop out of filming at the last minute due to an unavoidable scheduling clash.
Earlier this year, he called Traitors “maybe the best television I’ve seen” and said he loved the celebrity version which was viewed by more than 15 million people last year and won by comedian and presenter, Alan Carr.
“I think the format is just the most ingenious thing, isn’t it? It’s completely compulsive,” Mr Hiddleston said during a Radio 2 appearance.
Asked if he would want to be a faithful or a traitor, he said: “I don’t know, I think it would be really interesting to be a faithful, because then you have to, you could play detectives, right?”
Celebrity Traitors series 2 full line-up
These celebrities will be taking part in the new series of Celebrity Traitors, which is expected to be screened on BBC One and iPlayer in the autumn.
Amol Rajan – Journalist and Broadcaster
Bella Ramsey – Actor
James Acaster – Comedian and Podcaster
James Blunt – Singer/Songwriter
Jerry Hall – Model and Actress
Joanne McNally – Comedian
Joe Lycett – Comedian
Julie Hesmondhalgh – Actor
King Kenny – Content Creator
Leigh-Anne Pinnock – Singer/Songwriter
Maya Jama – Broadcaster and Entrepreneur
Michael Sheen – Actor and Presenter
Miranda Hart – Actor and Author
Myha’la – Actor
Professor Hannah Fry– Broadcaster and Mathematician
Richard E. Grant – Actor and Author
Rob Beckett – Comedian
Romesh Ranganathan – Comedian
Ross Kemp – Actor and Presenter
Sebastian Croft – Musician and Actor
Sharon Rooney – Actor.
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