Assault cabbie gets his licence
A Stafford taxi driver with a conviction for assault has been granted a permanent licence, nine months before regulations suggest he should get back behind the wheel.
Gary Williams, who drives for Kaminski Taxis, based in Newport Road, was handed his licence for driving Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles by Stafford Borough Council's public appeals committee members after a three-month probation period.
Mr Williams was first licensed as a taxi driver in July 1998 but had it revoked in September 2001 after being convicted of using threatening, insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of provocation of violence in July 1999, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm two years later.
Appeals against the decision were dismissed by both the magistrates and crown courts. Guidelines issued to Stafford Borough Council by the Home Office suggest anyone with convictions for violence should not be granted another taxi drivers' licence for three years after their last conviction.
But this year Mr Williams was granted a temporary three month licence. Now the committee has ruled he should have his permanent taxi driver's licence back.
Stafford Borough Council's principal environmental health officer Mark Street said: "In the three months of driving we have not received any complaints and had no reason to issue penalty points or take any action disciplinary or otherwise against the applicant."
David Kaminski, owner of Kaminski Taxis, said: "I feel he has proved himself and I have been keeping a close eye on him as a supervisor."
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Well that's alright then, because he hasn't knocked out anyone in the last three months, then everything is just ticker-tee-boo.