FIT AND PROPER


STOCKTON CABBIE BANNED AFTER TEXTING WOMEN AND LETTING DRUNK PUNTER UNZIP HIS FLIES


A hackney carriage driver cleared over an allegation of sexual assault has been refused a new licence after councillors were told of his ‘predatory’ behaviour with women customers. TeessideLive reports that the unnamed driver saw his bid for a licence to drive a PHV turned down by


Stockton Council. Officials


didn’t deem him a ‘fit and proper’ person due to contact and comments he’d initiated with female passengers, inappropriate text messages, and unprofessional use of their mobile numbers. A panel also considered the man’s admission he “did not prevent a drunk passenger from having sexual contact with him”. Stockton Council has confirmed the driver has mounted an appeal - with a hearing scheduled towards the end of the year. The council committee was told circumstances which led to the charge and acquittal had been a “sobering experience” for him - with councillors told by his legal representative that he had made mistakes with customers. The panel was told he had been “very keen to build rapport” with his customers to increase his business - with the committee told this was the reason for his gaining of customers’ telephone numbers and contacts via calls and texts. Councillors were also told the driver had matured over the past four years. A report added: “The applicant accepted he should not have communicated with his customers in the way that he did and he now sought a PHV drivers’ licence only,


PHTM OCTOBER 2022


and not a hackney licence.” When it came to the “very serious” sexual assault allegation, of which the driver was acquitted, the committee considered evidence gathered in the allegation. The driver had allowed a drunk female passenger to unfasten his trousers, zip and belt - despite him having a duty to get her home safely. “The applicant sent a number of text messages to the passenger the next day in relation to the incident,” the minutes stated. The driver confirmed he didn’t report the incident to anyone despite the driver alleging the passenger’s conduct amounted to a sexual assault upon him while at work. The committee considered all


prosecution documents - including statements of three witnesses who made separate allegations against the driver of inappropriate comments and being pressured by the driver into giving him phone numbers. Councillors were very concerned by this “apparent pattern of behaviour”. The report added: “On the balance of probability, the committee accepted the evidence of the witnesses, despite the applicant insisting they were all lying.” Councillors were offered three character references for the driver, but the panel was not satisfied that they would allow females in his care to enter a vehicle with him.


WATFORD CABBIE SUSPENDED AND TWO GIVEN NOTICES


Nearly 30 cabs in Watford were randomly inspected as police worked with Watford BC and the DVSA to stop taxis and PHVs to ensure they were safe. The checks included ensuring red diesel was not being used and that necessary signage, document- ation and equipment, such as first aid kits and fire extinguishers, were carried. A total of 28 cars were stopped and one driver was suspended due to having an unsafe vehicle. Two drivers were given a prohibition notice for mechanical issues and 13 drivers were given verbal warnings for having no door signs, no fire extinguisher, no licence and mechanical faults.


Cllr Ian Stotesbury, portfolio holder for transport and sustainability, said: “These operations help us to identify potential safety risks and deal with them.”


25


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86