TO Manchester, where Bash Ali has been taken to court for allowing too many passengers into his taxi. The official says he had nine; the maximum is eight.

Mr Ali says the council is wrong. He says the ninth passenger was an inflatable mannequin dressed as a woman.

The explanation might have worked had Ali not altered his plea to guilty. He was ordered to pay £438.12 in fines and costs.

He said after the case:

“I have no faith in the justice system. I see all sorts of sights in this job – men dressed as women, women dressed as men and yes, plenty of dolls dressed up too.”