FIT AND PROPER
BOLTON PH DRIVER REFUSED LICENCE AFTER HARASSING AND TEXTING FEMALE PASSENGER
A Bolton PH driver has been refused a private hire licence after harassing a passenger and texting her “asking if she was single”. A council meeting heard the driver continued to message and harass the passenger after the initial complaint, and was found by Bolton Council’s licensing committee to have “acted in an
inappropriate way”. The driver, who attended the meeting on November 18, “accepted this had been wrong”. The committee also found he had not attended safeguarding training “despite reminders” and there was no evidence that he had completed it. They added that he had also
breached his licence conditions by “plying for hire by returning to pick up the complainant without a booking via his PH operator”. They said this would invalidate his PHV insurance. The committee voted to refuse to grant a PH driver’s licence, but agreed for no action to be taken regarding his vehicle licence.
STRATFORD-ON-AVON PH DRIVER’S LICENCE SUSPENDED FOR BREACH OF LICENCE CONDITIONS
A driver licensed by Stratford-on- Avon DC has had his dual driver and PH operator licence suspended for 3 months following multiple breaches of licence conditions. At a meeting last November, the Licensing Panel determined the driver, 46, had failed to comply with essential vehicle testing
requirements, had poor record keeping practices, and had continued to breach conditions despite several written warnings. The driver also submitted vehicles for MOTs which subsequently failed, in further contravention of licence expectations. The Panel also recommended that
the driver must: show what systems he will implement to ensure all paperwork is submitted within required time frames; undertake daily checks on his vehicles and reacquaint himself with licensing policies and conditions relating to PHVs, HCVs, and PH operator licences.
NO SECOND CHANCES: STOCKTON CABBIE DENIED LICENCE OVER CCTV CHAIN BRAWL
A veteran taxi driver has been stripped of his livelihood after councillors viewed “concerning” CCTV footage of him swinging a chain during a street disturbance. The driver, who served the borough for 16 years without a criminal record, applied for a new PH licence after his previous one was revoked in August 2024. However, Stockton Council’s licensing committee unanimously refused the applic- ation, concluding he was no longer a “fit and proper person” to transport the public.
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The committee heard that Cleveland Police had arrested him on suspicion of “causing GBH with intent and affray.” While police ultimately took no further action due to “evidential limitations,” the disclosure of the incident triggered a review of the driver’s conduct. Representing the driver, Simon Walker argued his client was of good character and had “trans- ported thousands of passengers” safely. He maintained the driver “was trying to peacefully break up an incident, however was attacked
and then acted in self-defence.” The turning point for the com- mittee was CCTV footage showing the driver “moved towards the violence and took an active part, arming himself with a chain.” The committee found: there was “no evidence of peacekeeping”, the driver “intentionally swung the chain at a younger male”; he was “disingenuous during interview.” The committee ruled they were “not satisfied that they would allow people for whom they care to enter a vehicle” with the driver.
FEBRUARY 2026 PHTM
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