SCHOOLCHILDREN were found in an unlicensed car with an uninsured driver when officers carried out routine checks outside their school.

Muhammad Kayani was caught illegally taking the children to school on November 23 last year.

When Reading Borough Council officers demanded the 45-year-old handover his identification he claimed he had forgotten it and gave them a fake name and licence number belonging to a licensed driver.

Zafer Iqbal was working as a school escort for the private hire vehicle operator for ASR Travel Ltd in the same vehicle.

He backed up Kayani's lies and the pair appeared at Reading Magistrates' Court where they were fined more than £1,000.

Sarah Hacker, lead member for consumer services on Reading Borough Council, said: "Well done to the council’s licensing and legal teams for the successful outcomes of these cases.

"Regular routine checks like this help to protect public safety by ensuring private hire and taxi operators abide by the rules, otherwise they run the risk of receiving hefty fines from the courts."

The pair appeared before magistrates on May 12.

Kayani of Cumberland Road, admitted driving without insurance and driving a private hire vehicle without a licence and obstructing an officer. He was fined £399 and told to pay a £30 victim surcharge and costs of £250. He was given six penalty points.

Iqbal, 42, of Cressingham Road, Reading admitted operating a private hire vehicle, the driver of which did not have a licence, and obstructing an officer. He was fined £266 and told to pay a £30 victim surcharge and costs of £250.