A PRIVATE-HIRE driver who illegally picked up fares outside Manchester United's ground has been prosecuted.

Old Trafford has become a magnet for rogue drivers hoping to cash in on match days.

Earlier this month the M.E.N. highlighted the case of a Bury driver who was breaking the law by picking up fares in Old Trafford and demanding £20 for a two-mile journey.

Now, Trafford council has successfully secured a prosecution against Tahir Bilal Baig, a Manchester private-hire driver caught out in January.

Baig, 33, of Rusholme, was fined £700, plus £350 costs at Manchester Magistrates' Court after admitting illegally plying for hire.

The court heard he was spotted touting for business in his Toyota Avensis after a Reds clash with Newcastle.

Two fans were trying to flag down black cabs when Baig, of Rainbow Cars, asked them where they were going and beckoned them into his vehicle, before being confronted by a licensing enforcement officer from Trafford council.

Didn't turn up

In mitigation, Mr Baig claimed he had been called to the ground to pick up a fare which didn't turn up, and was taking the opportunity to make up the shortfall.

Black cab drivers are not supposed to pick up unbooked fares outside the local authority area which granted their licence. Meanwhile, private-hire drivers are not supposed to pick up fares in the street anywhere.

Licensing enforcement officer Martin McKinley said: "Private-hire vehicles can't ply for hire as black cabs can. In Trafford, we have had the ongoing problem of private-hire drivers and black cab drivers coming out of the area and soliciting for fares, sometimes demanding well over the odds.

"Old Trafford is unique in that what we get people from all over the country and the world coming on a regular basis to home games. It's our job as the licensing authority to ensure the protection of the public.

"If a driver is not licensed to pick people up he is not insured."

John Connaught, of Trafford GMB Hackney Drivers, said: "Last year, I was working on Talbot Road during the West Indies cricket Test Series. On one day there were 12 Trafford hackney carriage drivers and 76 private hire drivers from places like Bolton, Oldham, Manchester, Salford and Trafford.

"Demanding"

"Some of them were demanding £50 to go to the airport and £25 to the city centre. Drivers even come in from towns like Nelson, Colne and Burnley."

"I would urge fans to use licensed Trafford black cabs and when they use private hire vehicles, to book them over the phone. They should make sure they put the meter on and if they have any concerns take the drivers badge number and report the details to the local authority. Black cab drivers can agree a fare but it must be less than the metered rate."

Mr Connaught commended Trafford's efforts to crack down on the problem - but said they did not have enough enforcement officers.

"The drivers come from across Greater Manchester and beyond, so a team of twenty enforcement officers, with two drawn from each borough, could really help tackle the problem on match days", he added.

Mr Connaught said he had been in talks with licensing chiefs in the run up England's test match against New Zealand at Old Trafford cricket ground.

He said: "We expected the problem we had last year, but a decision was taken to put enforcement officers at the ground this year and it worked really well.

"They kept the private hire from plying their trade. There were some problems at peak times, with private hire cars coming in from other areas, but we were able to police it ourselves.

"Common sense prevailed at the end of the day."