BOLTON: Taxi driver applicant found not guilty of rape and serious assault charges denied licencehttps://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19 ... d-licence/A MAN has been denied a taxi driver’s licence after a council panel found that allegations of rape and serious assault for which he was acquitted in court ‘probably did take place’.A licensing committee of Bolton Council heard details of a previous alleged misconduct matter by the applicant, who was not named.
The driver and his solicitor attended the meeting and provided a written statement and verbal evidence to the panel.
In its recently published findings the panel gave its reasons for denying the licence.
They said: “The complaint related to one of rape and assault over a long period of time towards a female adult.
“On the balance of probabilities we find the allegations of rape and assault over a long period had occurred as documented in the evidence provided by the police.
“The driver and another were the subject of 33 charges and were remanded in custody by the police.
“At trial a not guilty verdict was given for 32 offences, however this was due to no evidence being offered following a retraction statement being submitted by the complainant.”
The panel were shown a transcript of the 999 emergency call from the driver’s ex-wife to a call handler, which they also felt was compelling.
The panel’s findings said that they had considered ‘the driver’s ex-wife’s initial retraction statement which stated that although she had forgiven the driver, everything she had previously stated about the allegations including the driver was true and accurate’.
The panel, said: “The evidence provided by the police together with the extensive supporting evidence was consistent with the allegations having occurred and was both credible and relevant.
“The driver was not a credible witness.”
The applicant’s private hire drivers licence had been previously been revoked in February, 2015.
Concluding their reasons for denying the licence, the report stated: “The sub-committee also took into account the convictions policy and the guidance note of the key characteristics of domestic abuse and violence for guidance purposes and noted that it is common for domestic violence victims to retract statements and feel sorry for the accused.
“The committee’s primary duty is of concern for the safety and wellbeing of the public.
“There is therefore reasonable cause to refuse to grant the private hire drivers licence.”
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