Bolton taxi driver who scared lone female passengers banned by licensing chiefshttp://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/163 ... ng-chiefs/A TAXI driver has had his licence taken away due to a series of complaints about his “inappropriate behaviour” towards lone female passengers.
Bolton Council licensing chiefs revoked the private hire licence with immediate effect after finding he was “not a fit and proper person” to hold it.
The sensitive cases sub-committee heard evidence from four witnesses and the licensing officer. They were also privy to an email police sent to the authority in connection with one of the complaints.
The panel heard evidence that, in April this year, the driver took one of the women home via “a long route through dark streets”. During the journey he asked her personal questions to which she did not reply , making her feel “scared, uncomfortable and panicked.”
The witness told the panel he had made inappropriate comments and kept the doors of the taxi locked despite her paying the fare and asking to leave.
And the panel also heard how the driver had later contacted the passenger via her Instagram account, despite the fact she had “made it clear” she did not like people she did not know contacting her.
The incident left the woman “very frightened” and the police contacted the council’s licensing unit about the driver’s conduct.
The sub-committee found the driver’s claims that he had not taken a longer route and that the passenger had invited him to follow her Instagram account “lacked credibility”. Members were undecided if he had locked the car, but accepted the passenger felt concerned for her safety “due to his earlier conduct during the journey.”
A further complainant said the driver had spoken to her in an “inappropriate way” and text her to ask her out for a meal.
And another lone woman said the driver had asked her to go out with him, and said a number of “disturbing things” , including asking her to go to a party at his house and offering drugs if she did so.
The driver also text her later - despite the fact she had refused to share her number - and continued to press her to go out with him. She said this made her feel uncomfortable.
And, on a second journey, he continued to make “inappropriate” comments and suggestions, leading to his sacking by the operator. She said she was left "very anxious about taxi drivers."
Minutes from the interviewed conducted by the operator revealed he asked for two complaints to be hidden from licensing chiefs.
Two of the witnesses said they believed this was an attempt at a "cover up".
Login
Register
FAQ
