A FAKE chauffeur who offered a luxury private hire service without a licence has been banned from driving.

Craig Ramshaw, 36, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was snared in a sting operation by undercover licensing officers who posed as customers.

Durham County Council had been tipped off an unlicensed vehicle was being advertised on a website offering executive and luxury car services for weddings, proms and special occasions.

Ramshaw was stopped by police driving a Chrysler between Lumley Castle and Newcastle Airport last August.

He appeared at Peterlee Magistrates' Court charged with operating his vehicle without a private hire licence, allowing his car to be used as a hire vehicle and not having the correct insurance for private hire use.

Ramshaw denied the charge but was found guilty by magistrates who fined him £230, ordered him to pay £500 towards legal costs, as well as £50 investigation costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

He was given eight penalty points on his driving licence, which disqualified him from driving, as his licence was already endorsed with six points.

Joanne Waller, the council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “This prosecution shows we have zero tolerance towards unlicensed taxi drivers and chauffeurs.”