Court hears mobile footage of both drivers turning away disabled woman before cancelling jobs
Two Uber drivers from Bradford have been stripped of their licences and fined after refusing to carry a passenger who was travelling with her guide dog.
According to BBC News, both drivers appeared at Bradford Magistrates’ Court on 31 October 2025, where the court was shown mobile phone footage of each man refusing to let a disabled woman and her assistance dog into their vehicles before cancelling the booking and driving off.
What happened
The first driver, Mohammed Zubair, aged 47, refused to take the woman from Smithy Carr Lane in Brighouse on 14 June, despite her explaining that turning away a guide-dog user is illegal. The following day, Muhammad Faisal, aged 34, also refused the same passenger, telling her she should have booked “Uber Pet” instead of a standard trip.
Both incidents were recorded on the passenger’s phone and later shared with Bradford Council’s Licensing Team, which brought both prosecutions.
Court outcome
At Bradford Magistrates’ Court, both drivers pleaded guilty to refusing to carry an assistance-dog passenger under the Equality Act 2010.
- Zubair was fined £90 and ordered to pay £500 in costs plus a £36 victim surcharge.
- Faisal was fined £80 and ordered to pay £500 in costs plus a £32 surcharge.
Both Uber drivers have since had their private-hire licences revoked by Bradford Council. Faisal was also banned from applying for a new licence for seven years.
Council response
A Bradford Council spokesperson told BBC News that the convictions demonstrated “the council’s commitment to ensuring equality of access to transport services for all residents” and warned that similar refusals would not be tolerated.
Legal background
In the UK, private-hire and taxi drivers are legally required to accept passengers accompanied by guide or assistance dogs unless they hold a valid medical exemption certificate. Refusing such a booking is an offence and can lead to fines, prosecution, and loss of licence.
DM News Commentary
This Bradford case sends a clear message across the taxi and private-hire industry: refusing an assistance-dog passenger is not only discriminatory — it’s unlawful. With more local authorities stepping up enforcement, all licensed drivers should review their training and understand their legal obligations under the Equality Act.
For the wider trade, the outcome reinforces public trust in licensed services and underlines why professional standards and passenger inclusivity remain at the heart of the industry’s reputation.
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