A judge says she will consider community service for a bogus taxi driver who picked up a woman in Dublin without having insurance or a licence.
Trevor Johnson of Gortmore Avenue, Finglas in Dublin 11 told Gardai he took a chance because of his “dire financial situation”.
Garda Damian Duffy pulled over a 07 silver Skoda taxi on Bride Street in Dublin at around 10.30pm on March 4th because he noticed it was missing certain discs on its windscreens.
Trevor Johnson told him heÂ’d been a legitimate taxi driver up until last year when he was put off the road for driving without insurance.
The court heard a young woman, who was sitting in the back, wasn'Â’t aware he was a bogus taxi driver.
Judge Gráinne OÂ’Neill asked if there was something else at play, but Garda Duffy said he made extensive inquiries and accepted Mr. JohnsonÂ’'s financial circumstances as the sole reason for picking up the fare.
The court heard the father-of-one lost his job as a plumber in 2007 and fell into mortgage arrears.
He said he was desperate and made a silly decision.
HeÂ’'s been fined €€600 and disqualified from driving for four years.
The 38-year-old will also avoid a three month prison sentence if heÂ’'s considered suitable for 100 hours of community service.
