Manchester taxi driver caught smoking must pay £520

Private hire vehicles and Hackney Carriage taxis are regarded as public areas

A taxi driver has been ordered to pay £521 in a fine and court costs for smoking inside his vehicle in Manchester.

Mohammed Yousaf, 44, was alone in his taxi when council officers spotted him smoking on Oxford Road in January.

He was cautioned and offered a fixed penalty notice of £50 which went unpaid.

Manchester magistrates convicted Mr Yousaf, of Moss Bank, Crumpsall, in his absence of smoking in a public place.

He was fined £120 with £411 costs.