A taxi driver who refused to carry a blind woman because of her guide dog has been hit with a court bill for more than £1,500.

Matloob Hussain had travelled to pick up Kelly Ann Roberts from her home in Walsall Wood as she was due to attend the Manor Hospital with her mother.

But the driver refused to accept black Labrador cross Roxy in the cab and allegedly claimed Mrs Roberts was not blind as she was blinking. Hussain, of Essex Street, Walsall, denied making the statement.

He also insisted he did not know it was a guide dog.

The 43 year-old was found guilty of being the driver of a private hire vehicle who refused to carry out a booking on behalf of a disabled person at Walsall Magistrates Court yesterday following a day-long trial.

The court was told Mrs Roberts, who is registered blind, was due to accompany her mother Patricia Lote to hospital on November 1.

They booked a taxi to come to Poxon Road, Walsall Wood, the night before and highlighted a guide dog would be among the passengers.

The animal was wearing a distinctive harness to show it was an assistance dog.

They said driver Hussain started repeatedly shouting no to the dog. Eventually another taxi had to be called to pick up the passengers.

However Hussain, speaking through an interpreter, said he was told of the job 10 minutes beforehand and was unaware of a dog being there.

He insisted there was no distinctive harness and was reluctant to take dogs, apart from guide dogs, “because they cause trouble”.

But of guide dogs he said: “I never refuse them, I pick them up all the time.”

John Western, defending, said a taxi had failed to arrive and Hussain was then called. There had been a “misunderstanding” causing the booking to end rather than the driver just leave.

Walsall Council licensing enforcement officers prosecuted the case after a breach of the equality act. Magistrates fined Hussain £300, ordered he pay £1,211 costs and £15 victim surcharge.