A PRIVATE hire driver used his cab to pick up a prostitute in a red light hotspot near to a children’s martial arts centre.

Imtiaz Ali, aged 32, a married man, of Leach Street, Newbold, picked up the woman in Hill Street on 12 January and was followed by police in a unmarked car.

Rochdale magistrates were told how Ali was spotted by two officers at around 8.20pm talking to the prostitute from his car in ‘an established red light area.’

She got into the passenger side of the car and they drove to a ‘secluded’ car park.

They became aware of police presence and drove from the car park, later stopping at a garage service station near Queensway to buy condoms. Police followed the pair into the garage and cautioned them.

Ali, who represented himself in the trial, argued he had seen the prostitute waving to him on a return journey from his mother’s house and she had asked him for a lift to Kirkholt.

Ali told police he knew it was a red light district, but had not known the girl was a prostitute.

Ali denied soliciting for the purpose of prostitution, but was found guilty and fined £200, with £250 court costs. He was also disqualified from driving for 28 days.