A DRIVER'S bid to win back his taxi licence floundered due to his failure to declare his earnings as a cabbie.

Syed Suza Miah, who was granted his licence by Durham County Council, in April 2007, received a written warning from the authority's licensing and registration sub-committee in June last year.

Durham Crown Court was told on Friday (May 17) that the warning was issued due to "concerns" over the standard of his driving, after he collected a total of eight penalty points on his licence for convictions for driving without due care and attention, and flouting a red traffic light.

As part of the warning Miah was required to take a driving standards course, which he passed.

But only a month after the warning was issued, Miah accepted a caution for dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances while in receipt of council housing tax benefit, for failing to notify his earnings as a taxi driver.

As a result he received £3,200 in benefit to which he was not entitled over a period of more than three years.

The licensing and registration sub-committee was notified of the caution and revoked Miah's taxi licence last October.

Miah appealed against the revocation at the crown court, citing hardship due to his loss of taxi income.

Miah told the appeal hearing his only earnings are now for 16-hours' work a week as a part-time chef in an Indian restaurant, while he has a mortgage to meet and is also paying £30 a week for the council housing tax benefit arrears.

Rejecting his appeal, Judge Christopher Prince, sitting with two magistrates, told him: "Durham County Council has a clear policy. They don't let thoroughly dishonest people have taxi licences."

Miah, 47, of Paignton Avenue, Newcastle, was also ordered to pay £350 towards the costs of the hearing.