PLAIN-clothes police caught a taxi driver illegally trading when they mounted a “sting” in Huddersfield.

He was a private hire driver and was caught by the undercover cops for carrying out an un-booked journey.

Intizar Hussain, 35, of Yews Hill Road Huddersfield, appeared before Dewsbury Magistrates yesterday charged with plying a taxi for hire.

Private hire drivers are not insured to pick up passengers, unless they have pre-booked the taxi.

Prosecutor Sarah Swarbrick told how the private hire taxi driver was dropping off passengers in Cross Church Street, Huddersfield just after midnight on Wednesday May 25.

He was then approached by two undercover officers who said their car had broken down at Odeon Cinema car park off Leeds Road and they needed to get back urgently.

He agreed to take them on the un-booked journey, breaching his licence conditions.

When he arrived at the Odeon Cinema uniformed officers questioned the driver and identified him as Intizar Hussain, a licensed taxi driver.

Defence solicitor Bob Carr told the court: “As far as the defendant was concerned he was going about his lawful business when he was approached.

“He admits it was hardly worth his while and believes the officers enticed him to commit an offence.

“He has had a clean licence for 15 years and been a taxi driver for seven.