A teenager has been jailed after a specialist police team seized two knives when they pulled over a taxi.

The force’s knife crime team took a machete and a lock knife off the streets after stopping the vehicle in Nottingham city centre around 12.10pm on 7 January 2025.

The team had spotted the occupants of the taxi behaving suspiciously and pulled it over in Whitechapel Street.

Mohammed Moussa attempted to exit the vehicle and flee but was quickly handcuffed by officers.

It was discovered he had a sheathed machete concealed inside his waistband.

Moussa was arrested and charged with possession of a knife in a public place.

The 19-year-old, from Nottingham, pleaded guilty to the offence and was jailed for eight months when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court one day later on Wednesday 8 January.

Also inside the taxi was Laquarne Fogo, 20, of Cameron Road, Derby.

During searches, he was found to have a lock knife hidden in his underpants.

Fogo also pleaded guilty to knife possession and has been remanded in custody until 29 January 2025 when he is due to be sentenced.

PC Ken Tinley, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This proactive vehicle stop has allowed us to seize and destroy two blades, and place two knife carriers before the courts.

“This is exactly the sort of outcome the knife crime team was established to achieve.

“Everything we do as a team is geared towards taking knives off the streets and bringing anyone who carries them to justice..

“There is never any excuse for anyone to be carrying a blade in public. It puts themselves and anyone they come into contact with at risk of harm.

“As this incident also highlights it can very quickly lead to you being put behind bars.”

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Taxi firms in West Fife have been commended by Fife Council for their "first-class efforts" after all 15 vehicles inspected in November and December passed safety tests.

This 100% pass rate surpasses the previous mark of 94% achieved in September 2024.

Billy Ferguson, service manager of fleet operations at the council, expressed his satisfaction with the results.

"I'm delighted to report the 100 per cent pass rate," Mr. Ferguson stated. "The West area tests were conducted differently this year, with most vehicles inspected earlier. This resulted in a smaller sample size for the recent round of inspections.

"Nevertheless, the operators should be congratulated for their first-class efforts in continuing to maintain their cars to a very high standard."

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A taxi driver will be sentenced next month after admitting to sexually assaulting a woman in Basingstoke.

Mohammed Saleem, 59, from Nottingham, pleaded guilty to sexually touching a woman without her consent on March 23, 2024, at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday 8 January.

Saleem will be sentenced on February 24 and remains on conditional bail with strict conditions.

He is prohibited from working as a taxi driver and is only permitted to transport immediate family members in his vehicle.

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A Middlesbrough man who was forced to sell his failing business and become an Uber driver is celebrating after winning a £330,000 Spanish villa in an online competition.

Arshad Mahmood was stunned when he discovered he had won the villa in Los Balcones, courtesy of online competition specialist BOTB.

The win comes as a significant relief for Mr. Mahmood, who had to sell his struggling grocery shop before turning to ride-sharing for income.

"I cannot explain how I feel," an elated Mr. Mahmood said after BOTB presenter Christian Williams surprised him with the news at his home. "This is life-changing! I was just about to go to work when I quickly entered the competition. It's incredible."

The fully-renovated villa boasts three spacious bedrooms, a private pool, and a rooftop terrace offering panoramic views.

The prize also includes free flights from the UK to Alicante for four people, twice a year for five years – a package valued at £12,000.

Mr. Williams even video-called Mr. Mahmood's wife, Sabina, at work to share the exciting news and presented them with a beginner's Spanish language book to prepare for their future Spanish adventures.

Despite the allure of the villa, Mr. Mahmood is considering the £240,000 cash alternative to help pay off debts. "I've been in a bit of a crisis the last few years," he explained. "I opened a grocery shop, but it struggled, so I had to sell it, and then I became an Uber driver."

"A massive congratulations to Arshad for winning this gorgeous Spanish villa!" said Mr. Williams.

"After a tough few years, he's earned this incredible prize. This villa isn't just a dream home; it's a lucrative rental opportunity too."

BOTB, a leading online car competition specialist, celebrated its 25th anniversary with the launch of its first-ever home giveaway. Founded in 1999 by William Hindmarch, BOTB has awarded over £83 million in cars to date.

"Reaching our 25th anniversary is an incredible milestone, and we wanted to celebrate in a way that reflects our mission to make dreams come true," Mr. Williams added.

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A significant increase in the number of rejected taxi licence applications in Buckinghamshire has raised concerns among local councillors.

Between October 2023 and September 2024, the council denied 53 applications, a staggering 165% jump compared to the 20 refusals during the same period in the previous year.

This data was revealed at a licensing committee meeting on Thursday 9 January, where Councillor Nick Southworth said the sharp rise in licence refusals was ‘staggeringly high’.

Cllr Southworth questioned whether the surge was attributed to stricter licensing procedures or an influx of unsuitable candidates.

Simon Gallacher, the council's principal licensing officer, acknowledged that the reason for the increase remains unclear. However, he pointed to a concurrent rise in complaints against taxi drivers, suggesting a possible correlation.

"We have made some improvements to our reporting procedures, making it easier for people to report online," Mr. Gallacher explained. "That might be one contributing factor."

Lindsay Vallis, the service director for integrated transport, emphasised the council's commitment to rigorous investigative and enforcement activities within the taxi and private hire vehicle sector.

In other licensing news, the council approved a fee increase for taxi licences to align with the council's draft budget. The new fee schedule will see a three-year licence rise from £368 to £387, while a five-year licence for a single-vehicle operator will increase from £593 to £623.

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