Revealed: The six male councillors who backed Inverness rapist keeping taxi licence… and the four women who opposed it
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... -revealed/
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| Highland Council win numpty council of the decade http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42673 |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Mon Jun 29, 2026 7:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Highland Council win numpty council of the decade |
Highland Council allows jailed rapist to keep taxi operator licence as red-faced local authority scrambles to undo botched decision https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/new ... at-438802/ Highland Council is set to redo a decision allowing convicted rapist David Brown to keep his taxi operator licence despite him being jailed for almost seven years last month. The extraordinary move came after a review request hearing came to the council’s licensing committee last Tuesday when it is understood that councillors voted behind-closed-doors by majority to allow Brown to keep the operator’s licence. That also flew in the face of a Police Scotland objection to Brown retaining the licence. To undo that decision, the council has been forced to effectively brand its own ruling in the matter as a potential “contravention of law” or “maladministration leading to injustice”. It is understood that the item will be reconsidered by all councillors - and that those councillors who voted to continue Brown’s licence could face a vote of no confidence, with some thought to be considering their positions. In December 2023, Brown (50) was convicted of raping a “vulnerable” 18-year-old female passenger in a remote lay-by between Dingwall and Strathpeffer. He was accused of effectively “dumping” her in sub-zero temperatures and was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life for what the judge described as “a terrifying ordeal” for his victim who had been on a night out in Inverness. Five weeks after his sentencing, the licencing committee said he could keep the operator’s licence which is linked to a vehicle. His taxi driver’s licence was removed in January 2024, the month after the attack on the teenager. The precise reason why Brown was allowed to retain his operator’s licence has not been made public, as a Highland Council spokeswoman explained: "We do not comment on individual licensing cases, especially those held in private. “However, we can confirm that a Standing Order 16 Notice of Referral has been initiated by the chief officer - legal and corporate governance. “The licensing committee decision will now be referred to a future meeting of the Highland Council for further consideration.” It allows the council’s chief legal and governance officer Stewart Fraser to refer to the full council “any decision taken which they consider a contravention of law or any code of practice under any enactment, or maladministration leading to injustice”. The move was announced at last week’s full council meeting by convener Bill Lobban – just two days after the licensing committee met – and means all councillors need to receive some legal training. Cllr Lobban said: “I will liaise with the chief officer of legal and corporate governance to agree future steps, which will include delivery of training for all members, as licensing training will be required for all members. “Myself, the leader of the council and the leader of the opposition support the decision of the chief officer of legal and corporate governance. This is for your information.” A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We can confirm officers attended a Highland Council licensing committee meeting on Tuesday, June 23, and submitted an objection. “The decision on whether to grant a licence is a matter for the council.” |
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| Author: | edders23 [ Tue Jun 30, 2026 6:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Highland Council win numpty council of the decade |
the blokes in jail ,so what use is the license anyway |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Tue Jun 30, 2026 12:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Highland Council win numpty council of the decade |
edders23 wrote: the blokes in jail ,so what use is the license anyway I think it was a vehicle license. |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Tue Jun 30, 2026 4:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Highland Council win numpty council of the decade |
The essence to this thing is the badge/plate distinction, which isn't really brought out in the article, unless you're an insider, as opposed to a member of the public. But I recall it from years ago in Dundee, when (apparently) a drunk driver was allowed to keep his plate, but not his badge. Which makes sense in a way. But to what extent that should extend to other crimes is obviously debatable. But also fundamental to the Dundee thing is that plates were capped. So to that extent it was a bit like those people who kept Dundee plates while living abroad, for example. They needed to keep their plate because it has a value in terms of excessive rentals etc. So it would probably be irrelevant to a drunk driver if plates were uncapped, because he probably wouldn't want to retain it anyway, because it would probably have no use to him. Whether or not that's the case here in Inverness isn't clear. Maybe he has drivers on his car(s), or maybe he now intends to. But for most in the trade, if they lose their badge then they won't want/need their plate anyway, so the distinction alluded to in the article regards revocation is irrelevant. |
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| Author: | edders23 [ Tue Jun 30, 2026 4:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Highland Council win numpty council of the decade |
Sussex wrote: edders23 wrote: the blokes in jail ,so what use is the license anyway I think it was a vehicle license. I know but are you suggesting he's going to turn his cell into a booking office ? |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Tue Jun 30, 2026 6:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Highland Council win numpty council of the decade |
edders23 wrote: Sussex wrote: edders23 wrote: the blokes in jail ,so what use is the license anyway I think it was a vehicle license. I know but are you suggesting he's going to turn his cell into a booking office ? It's worth remembering that operators in Scotland are what we call proprietors in England. Which is why I suspect the numpties got confused, as the vehicle is (I assume) fit and proper, but the owner isn't. And the owner won't be able to drive it where he currently resides. Those councillors should have been better informed by legal, and if they were but still made that mad decision, then they should all resign. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Highland Council win numpty council of the decade |
Revealed: The six male councillors who backed Inverness rapist keeping taxi licence… and the four women who opposed it https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... -revealed/
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| Author: | Sussex [ Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Highland Council win numpty council of the decade |
Quite telling. 
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