The boss of a newly-formed minicab firm believes a series of vandal attacks he has suffered are aimed at putting him out of business.

Car windows have been smashed and brake fluid thrown over one vehicle since New Wrose Road Private Hire set up last October.

In the latest incident, phone lines outside the company’s offices in Wrose Road were cut, meaning customers could not get through to book taxis for several hours.

License holder Rahim Dad said he suspected the motive behind the incidents was a bid to close his firm down.

Mr Dad said: “Two of our cars had their windows smashed and brake fluid was thrown over one of them.

"Eggs have also been thrown and one of our drivers felt intimidated when he was filmed on a mobile phone while doing his job.

"We have also been getting nuisance calls, sending us to a destination and then finding nobody is there.

“We reported the vandalism to the police and since then it has reduced. But then our phone lines were cut.

“All our bookings are done by phone, so we lost a significant amount of business.”

Mr Dad said he had reported the incidents to Bradford Council as well as the police. He said: “We believe in fair competition. We are here to serve the community.”

The incidents are similar to those described last year by another private hire boss, Lee Frear, whose new company Jet Link Private Hire, in Frizinghall, was targeted.

His office was subjected to an arson attack, the firm received nuisance calls and staff were threatened.

Insp Hugh Robinson, of Shipley Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We take all incidents of criminal damage seriously, particularly where it causes disruption to a local business, and inquiries are ongoing to identify those responsible.

“I would ask anyone with information to contact Shipley NPT on 101.”

Geoff Binnington, Bradford Council’s principal officer for environmental and regulatory services, said: “Mr Dad has spoken with Bradford Council about his business and we have advised him to report any acts of criminal damage to the police who are the correct authority to investigate such matters.”