IN THE NEWS
GLASGOW PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER ACCUSED OF ASSAULT HAS LICENCE RENEWED FOR THREE YEARS
A Glasgow private hire driver facing trial for assault has been granted a new three-year licence, despite objections from Police Scotland. The city’s licensing committee renewed Iqbal Akhtar’s
licence
after twice postponing a decision to await an update on the criminal proceedings. Akhtar is accused of “assault to severe injury and failing to stop
and provide his name and address” following an alleged incident in December 2022. It is claimed he “accelerated at speed in a public car park” while a customer was next to his vehicle, causing “her to be dragged or fall and break her leg.” Chairman of the licensing committee, Councillor Alex Wilson, noted the case was “very much a subjudice case” and that the
committee had to decide if Akhtar was a “fit and proper person in the meantime.”
He added that the decision was made on the assumption that individuals are “innocent until proven guilty.” The committee also acknow- ledged that Police Scotland could lodge a further complaint if Akhtar is found guilty at his trial, which is scheduled for September 15.
CARLISLE CABBIE’S ILLEGAL ACT OF KINDNESS LANDS HIM IN COURT
A 75-year-old Carlisle private hire driver, Barry Haden, was taken to court and charged with breaching licensing rules after he used his personal car to transport an autistic student to college. Haden, who did not charge the family for the journeys, explained he did it to avoid letting the student and his family down after his licensed taxi broke down. The incident came to light after a “tip off” from a competitor. While Haden normally transported the student in his licensed vehicle, an electrical fault in his taxi forced
him to use his own Honda car on five occasions. At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, prosecutor Jonathan Farnworth explained that Haden’s decision to use his personal vehicle, which was not appropriately licensed for private hire by Cumberland Council, was a breach of regulations “even though the pensioner did not charge the family.” Farnworth stated that the licensing rules are in place to ensure “legal safeguards and standards are met.” A powerful character reference
UBER RATING SAVES BOLTON DRIVER FROM LONGER SUSPENSION
A Bolton private hire driver who failed to declare multiple speeding offences was handed a four-week suspension after his “high Uber ratings” and 18-year driving history were taken into account by the
18
council's Licensing and Environ- mental Regulation Committee. The driver had previously taken a speed awareness course and admitted to three recent speeding incidents from 2023 and 2024.
was provided by the student’s father, who sat beside Haden in court. The father described how Haden had a strong relationship with his son, who has complex learning needs. The father told magistrates that his son “did not like to be transported by any other driver,” and that Haden, “even after a close bereavement, had insisted on taking his son to college.” The father concluded: “That shows the quality of the man you have here,” adding that it would be devastating for his son if Haden could not continue to transport him to college. Haden pleaded guilty
to the
offence. Magistrates acknowledged his good character and imposed a three-month conditional dis- charge, meaning he will not be punished as long as he stays out of trouble during that period. He was also ordered to pay costs of £74 and a surcharge of £26.
SEPTEMBER 2025 PHTM
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