Taxi Driver Online

I'm guessing the linked photo was taken during happier times - but that's an issue with posing for press photos and putting selfies online - when things go belly up your coupon is all over the press

(Coupon is a Glaswegian/Scots slang word for face. The photo looked OK on the website, but was mahoosive when viewed on here, so I've just included a link rather than embedded the photo.)


Crowborough taxi driver loses fight at court to get back his licence

https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/crowb ... s-licence/

At a meeting held behind closed doors in November 2019, the council's licensing sub-committee decided Donald Richards was no longer deemed fit to hold a dual licence

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/iya- ... 248701.jpg
Image: Paul Viney

A Crowborough taxi driver who lost his licence after allegations of 'acting inappropriately towards a female passenger' and assaulting another taxi driver has lost his appeal to get it back.

Donald Richards of Ashdown Cars in Crowborough had his licence revoked by Wealden District Council.

It followed three allegations of "unacceptable licenced driver behaviour".

At a meeting held behind closed doors in November 2019, the council's licensing sub-committee decided Mr Richards was no longer deemed fit to hold a dual licence. It was immediately cancelled.

Mr Richards appealed the decision but at Brighton Magistrates' Court at a three-day hearing ending on August 13, the decision was upheld.

Mr Richards was ordered to pay £10,000 towards the costs of the council.

A council spokesman said: "Upon hearing evidence, the court was satisfied that Mr Richards acted inappropriately towards a female passenger, and in a separate incident, assaulted another taxi driver at Crowborough train station in October 2019.

"In addition, Mr Richards had continued to work following revocation of his licence by the council’s licensing sub-committee," he said.

Mr Richards' family said in a statement to the Courier: "Mr Richards is understandably very disappointed with the court's decision and that he had hoped that his long service to the community and good character would have added more weight to his continued denials of the allegations made by so few."

They added: "(the) company has been running for over 20 years and will continue to run."

Councillor Nigel Coltman, chairman of the council's licensing committee said: “We treat passenger safety very seriously. Drivers and vehicles must be of a high standard to ensure public safety and confidence.

"As a council, we will investigate any credible evidence which we receive that suggests Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licence holders are not upholding our high standards," he said.

In minutes following the council meeting in November 2019, Mr Richards was described as having held a "Dual (Private Hire and Hackney Carriage) Driver’s Licence with the council for a period in excess of 15 years. They were also the owner and licence holder of a private hire/taxi company. The company operated a mixed fleet of private hire and hackney carriage vehicles, currently 10 in total, and the driver was the licence holder for each of those vehicles."

Three days?

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IDFIMH