Former cabbie is denied a licence
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news ... a_licence/
A FORMER cabbie who had been charged with raping a passenger has failed in his bid to get another taxi driver’s licence.
Mahbub Chowdhury launched an appeal against the decision of Swindon Borough Council to refuse to grant him as Hackney carriage licence.
The 40-year-old, who had earlier lost an appeal before magistrates, was told he was not a ‘fit and proper person’ to be allowed to drive a cab in the town.
Chowdhury, of Bruce Street, Swindon, argued that he had never been convicted of any offence after the case was dropped by prosecutors in 2005.
Judge Douglas Field, sitting with two magistrates at Swindon Crown Court, heard there had also been a number of incidents as well as the alleged rape.
He was told how, on the same night four years ago, the driver had behaved in an inappropriate way to a Japanese student, leaving her in tears.
After the girl got lost in a south coast town, she got into his cab in a distressed state and he put his hand on her arm and leg as he comforted her.
On earlier occasions, two women had written to Poole Borough Council saying the driver had asked them personal questions when giving them lifts.
The court heard how one of them said he kept asking her if he could come in for coffee, while the other said he started making sexual remarks.
Nick Phillips, from Poole Borough Council, told the judge it was uncommon for women to make written formal complaints about cabbies because they feared reprisals as they had normally been given lifts home.
As a result of the two complaints, Chowdhury, who had been a cabbie for just six months, was given a written warning by the council.
The former takeaway boss was taken off the roads for good seven months later when the allegation of rape was made.
A detective sergeant from Dorset Police told the court that as the victim was very drunk and there was no forensic evidence.
He said the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case in consultation with the 22-year-old woman as there was no realistic prospect of a conviction.
During his investigations he said he also uncovered another case where Chowdhury was accused of trying to kiss a female passenger.
Lucy Davis, for Chowdhury, told the court that her client had been persistent and determined in his bid to get a taxi driver’s licence.
She pointed out that he had no convictions here or in his homeland of Bangladesh, which he left for the UK in 2001.
Refusing the appeal, the judge said: “We have come to the conclusion that Mr Chowdhury is not a fit and proper person and it follows therefore that his appeal has to be dismissed.”
He also ordered Chowdhury, who told the court he was on benefits, to pay £1,590 in costs.
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