FIT AND PROPER
MAN REFUSED NORTH AYRSHIRE TAXI LICENCE FOR VIOLENT ASSAULT AND SERIOUS MISCONDUCT
A North Ayrshire man has been denied a taxi licence following a “very serious” series of alcohol- fuelled offences that included stamping on a customer's face and assaulting police officers. Tyler Macauley, a construction worker, saw his application unanimously rejected by the North Ayrshire Licensing Committee on Wednesday, 4 February,
after
Police Scotland argued he was “not a fit and proper person to have a taxi driver’s licence.” The committee heard that during an April 2023 altercation at a Prestwick restaurant, Macauley
engaged in a fight with a 50-year- old man. After the victim fell and struck his head, Macauley “approached the 50-year-old and stamped on his face with his foot.” The violence continued following his arrest, as Macauley resisted officers, used misogynistic slurs, and “repeatedly thrust his buttocks into the groin area of a male officer.” Once at Saltcoats Police office, he urinated on the floor and “spat into the face of a male officer,” eventually requiring a three- person team to move him to a cell. Macauley, who failed to disclose his previous convictions on his
application for the taxi licence, claimed his mother had filled out most of the paperwork and he believed the record was spent. Expressing remorse, he told the committee: “It was not me,” and stated he was “embarrassed and had too much to drink.” He maintained that he has not consumed alcohol since the night of the incident. Despite his apology, the committee remained firm on public safety. Cllr Donald L Reid emphasised the gravity of the case, stating: “These are very serious charges and we have a duty of care to the public.”
CHELTENHAM CRACKDOWN: DISHONEST CABBIES STRIPPED OF LICENCES AFTER SAFETY SWEEPS
Authorities in Cheltenham have sent a clear message to the trade following a series of enforcement operations that have left two drivers without their livelihoods and one facing a massive legal bill. In a joint effort between the police and Cheltenham Borough Council licensing teams, licensed vehicles were pulled over during race meetings to ensure they met safety and regulatory standards. In one significant case, a driver licensed by
the City of
Wolverhampton Council was caught during the November race meet using illegal “ghost plates.” These plates are designed to evade cameras and tracking, and an inspection further revealed the driver was not wearing his required identification badges. A follow-up
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investigation by licensing officials discovered the driver had also submitted a fraudulent insurance certificate. Consequently, both his driver and vehicle licences were revoked, and he has been added to the NR3 national register of barred drivers as he was no longer considered a “fit and proper person.” At another operation, this time at the 2025 March Festival, driver Mr. Rahman, was stopped for having two bald tyres that fell below the legal safety limit. This discovery
led to the
uncovering of a long history of undeclared speeding fines and false statements made on his licensing applications. Despite Mr. Rahman’s repeated attempts to fight the ban through the legal
system, his final appeal was rejected by the Crown Court on February 9, 2026. The court was scathing in its assessment of the veteran driver, noting that six driving offences over 11 years was an unacceptable record for a professional. The judge stated that Mr. Rahman was “not an honest person” and that there was a clear “pattern of dishonesty in this case.” Supporting the council’s original decision, the court ruled that officials were “perfectly entitled to find that Mr Rahman was not a fit and proper person” and were not persuaded that the revocation was “a wrong decision or anything approaching a wrong decision.” Mr. Rahman has now been ordered to pay £4,180.50 in legal costs to the council.
MARCH 2026 PHTM
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