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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(Image: Supplied)

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.

Radley College Chapel and Mansion (Image: Edmund Blok/Radley College)

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.”