Taxi Driver Online

Ex-convict launches bid to get taxi licence back


A CONVICTED cocaine dealer has launched a bid to keep his taxi licence.

David Crawford, 45, has taken his appeal against Barrow Borough Council’s decision to strip him of his licence to the crown court.

The council ruled he was unfit to drive a taxi as he has not been free of serious criminal conviction for a period of three to five years. The period is at the council’s discretion.

Mr Crawford was jailed in June 2008 after being found with two half-gram wraps of cocaine and £685 of cash at the King Alfred Pub on Walney in July of the previous year.

He was found guilty of possession with intent to supply cocaine, and released from prison in July 2009.

Mr Crawford was granted a taxi licence in September this year and began driving for A1 Taxis in Barrow. However Barrow Borough Council chose to revoke his licence at a meeting of the licensing committee on November 3 after officers raised concerns about his past. Mr Crawford appealed and his case was heard by Furness Magistrates’ Court on December 6. The district judge upheld the council’s decision, but Mr Crawford has now taken his case to the crown court, and can continue driving until the process is completed.

A taxi driver contacted the Evening Mail anonymously to express concern at Mr Crawford being able to continue driving.

The driver said: “Maybe Mr Crawford is a reformed character. If so, then he should understand that the rule is there for him to show and prove to society that this is the case.”

But Mr Crawford told the Evening Mail that he believed he was eligible to reapply for a licence from June this year, and this is why he is fighting his case.

He said: “I’ve got it in black and white that my three years expired in June and that’s why I reapplied.”

Chief environmental health officer at Barrow Borough, Council Gary Ormondroyd, confirmed that although the council revoked Mr Crawford’s licence, he would continue to be able to serve as a driver until his appeal had been heard by the crown court. He said: “The bottom line is he had his licence revoked by us at the committee meeting in November.

“He was instructed he has a right to appeal to the crown court (following the district judges’ ruling) and he has exercised this right.”

Mr Crawford left A1 this week after an unrelated disagreement.

Paul Brereton, owner of A1 taxis, confirmed Mr Crawford had left the company.

He said:“We took the decision this week, but not on the grounds of licensing.”

Mr Crawford said: “I’m now left in a position where I have no job during the Christmas period.

“I am trying to get a taxi sorted but I don’t think it’s going to happen.

“I have done my time for the stupid things I have done in the past. But I have got everything against me.”

A spokesman for Preston Crown Court said a date had not yet been set for the appeal hearing.

source: http://www.nwemail.co.uk/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

He'll offend again I reckon, once they smaple the easy pickings of the drug trade he'll be back dealing in no time.

Isn't this supposed to happen the other way round?

If only there was some way of checking an applicants Criminal Records, perhaps via some sort of Bureau before a licence is granted ?

HTF would they be able to do that?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

sorry but I concur with above posts convicted drug dealers shouldn't be allowed into the taxi trade its too easy to cover their tracks and start dealing again and if they are working the clubs find drunk vulnerable prey to sell to !

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector