Former self-employed Streamline taxi driver, Hossein Gholami
born 23/01/95 of College Court, Maidstone yesterday appeared at Maidstone Crown
Court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of Perverting the Course of
Justice.
The first related to a speeding offence on 25 September 2024
detected by safety cameras on the M25 Controlled Motorway at Westerham. The taxi driven by Mr Gholami was
detected travelling at 46mph in a 40mph variable limit. Mr Gholami was sent a
notice requesting details of the driver but he nominated an individual who
later could not be traced. Further enquiries with the taxi firm revealed that Mr
Gholami was the only licenced and insured driver of that vehicle. Mr Gholami
put forward an explanation which was later found to be inconsistent with the
facts. Initially vague when questioned, he then chose to reply ‘no comment’
throughout the interview.
The second offence related to contravening a red light on 14
November 2015 where Mr Gholami was stopped at the time by a Police Officer and
issued with a fixed penalty. Initially unchallenged, Mr Gholami then later
denied the offence and again provided details of the driver whom he had
previously nominated for the speeding offence.
Gholami was again interviewed for this offence but during
the interview admitted to offering to pay another individual £200.00 to take
responsibility for the offence.
Mr Gholami was subsequently reported for both offences and
charged with Perverting the Course of Justice. At the hearing on 9th
May 2016 at Maidstone Crown Court Mr Gholami changed his initial plea to that
of Guilty and was given the following sentences to run concurrently:
10 months imprisonment suspended
for 24 months
Unpaid work requirement – 150
hours – to be completed within 12 months
Electronically monitored curfew –
8pm-6am – Duration of 3 months
Disqualified driving – 12 months
Prosecution costs - £250
