Taxi Driver Online

Fife taxi driver cleared of making sexual remarks

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/lo ... l-remarks/

A Fife taxi driver accused of asking female passengers for sexual favours has been found not guilty.

Talib Pashtun appeared for trial at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court charged with making offensive remarks to three women within his vehicle on May 11.

The 29-year-old, who denied the allegations against him, had his taxi licence suspended by Fife Council chiefs earlier this year.

The committee decided he was no longer a fit and proper person to hold the licence and was someone who may pose a threat to public safety. It was suspended until August 2020.

The court was told on Wednesday that Pashtun had made comments about the appearance of two women on a journey from Asda in Kirkcaldy to Veronica Crescent.

A 20-year-old, who cannot be named, claimed Pashtun asked her and her best friend to go back to his home and if they would like to have sex with him.

The passenger said she told the driver to stop the car a short distance from their final destination as they were “too uncomfortable”, before exiting the vehicle.

She later reported the incident to the police.

A second charge against Pashtun, of Harris Drive, Kirkcaldy, claimed he repeatedly made references to a third woman’s breasts and invited her to engage in sexual acts on the same date.

After hearing initial evidence, depute fiscal Jade Doig told the court the Crown were no longer seeking a prosecution in the case.

Sheriff James MacDonald said: “Accordingly, I find you not guilty on both charges. You are free to leave the dock.”

Presumably for the currency of his existing licence?

But another interesting one if he tries to get his badge back.

As the original incident took place in May, I doubt he would have appealed as it would have been heard by now.

I suppose he can appeal them not renewing after 2020, but I think it best all round he pursues another career.

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IDFIMH

So there's no mechanism to get his badge back in the meantime?

I mean, if he's suspended pending a criminal trial then if that goes in his favour then if he's desperate to get his badge back then surely some way of doing so before 2020?

He would have had a certain time to appeal, it appears he didn't.

He could write and cancel his license, and then apply afresh.

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IDFIMH

Suppose he took the view that appeal unlikely to be successful with prosecution and criminal court case pending.

So seems a very cumbersome mechanism to get badge back if (say) a driver was maliciously accused of something but either no prosecution or acquitted after the case falls apart, but after the licence appeal option is no longer available.