A BRADFORD taxi driver has been sentenced for trying to replicate his old car which was involved in a serious crash.

Amjad Khan, 39, of Great Horton Road was sentenced to a 12-month community order at Bradford Crown Court last Friday after admitting two counts of fraud at a previous hearing.

The 39-year-old owned a black "15 plate" Toyota Auris that was involved in a serious road traffic collision in December 2021.

It was damaged to an extent that it was "likely to be beyond repair".

But by October 27 last year, what appeared to be the same vehicle, displaying the same registration number, was taken for inspection to Bradford Council's Taxi Licensing Department.

Police officers were present at the inspection and they soon established that the vehicle’s identity markings did not match the colour.

Khan had obtained a similar-looking vehicle to the original car, painted it by hand, and put the damaged taxi's plates on it.

The car had been poorly painted to match the colour of the taxi involved in the collision.

Further enquiries revealed the owner of the registration number to be Khan and that he had rented it out, along with the painted car, to an entirely innocent driver.

Khan must pay back £1,400 alongside his community order, after a Proceeds of Crime Act Confiscation Order was made by the court.

He will receive a two-month prison sentence if he fails to do so.

The 39-year-old must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work as part of the community order and pay costs of £85.

Speaking after the sentencing, Paul Jeffrey, of the West Yorkshire Police Casualty Prevention Unit said: “West Yorkshire Police works closely with partner agencies to ensure vehicles being used for hire and reward are safe and comply with all registration requirements. 

“Here, a different vehicle was presented for inspection bearing a false identity in that it had the same number plates as a car previously used by Khan as a taxi. 

“Vehicle registrations are not interchangeable, and when detected the police will take action to address any offences and ensure vehicle safety is not compromised. 

“This remains a priority in our efforts to prevent road casualties.”

Councillor Abdul Jabar, Bradford Council’s Porfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, said: “Following reports made to the council that a Private Hire Vehicle was operating on false number plates, officers from the Licensing Service initiated an investigation with the support of our partners at West Yorkshire Police.

“The vehicle was identified and brought to the Licensing Service where Enforcement and Police Officers completed an inspection, during this inspection the suspicions were confirmed and the vehicle was seized. 

“The resulting prosecution is a demonstration of effective partnership working between the Licensing Service and West Yorkshire Police.

"The Licensing regime exists to ensure that vehicles and drivers licensed by the Council are safe and suitable.

"Mr Khan's actions directly contravened the standards expected and subsequently he has been prosecuted.

"Mr Khan has had his licences reviewed and subsequently does not now hold any Taxi or Private Hire Licenses with Bradford Council”.