http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2007/10/30/rogues-off-the-roads-72703-20032124/
Rogues off the roads
Oct 30 2007 by Adam Jupp, Evening Chronicle
NEW rules will keep rogue cabbies off our roads and prevent perverts like Moham-mad Haq exploiting a loophole.
The sex offender used an appeals system which allowed him to carry on cabbying for more than a year after he preyed on two schoolgirls in his taxi.
Haq made a string of sordid suggestions before exposing himself to the horrified 16-year-olds he had picked up in Newcastle.
City council licensing chiefs immediately suspended the married-father-of-two following his arrest.
But he won the right to stay on the roads until his case came to court six months later.
Haq, of Wingrove Road, Fenham, Newcastle, went on to admit committing a lewd act in front of the teenagers when he appeared at the city’s Crown Court and was stripped of his licence.
But again he exploited a legal loophole by appealing the ruling, leaving him free to transport passengers round in his cab for a further six months.
Haq, who was previously cleared of indecent assault in a 2002 trial, is now finally off the roads for good after JPs rejected his latest bid to keep his badge.
Licensing chiefs have moved to reassure the public that new legislation makes it impossible for taxi drivers to hold on to their licenses by appealing against their rulings.
Licensing manager Dave O’Brien, said: “It used to be the case that drivers could lodge appeals against suspensions or revocations and continue working until those appeals were heard.
“The Road Traffic Act 2006 changed that, meaning any driver who is suspended or loses his license still has the right to appeal but cannot drive in the meantime.
“The law could not be applied retrospectively to this case, but we will be using it in future cases. The safety of the general public is our primary concern and we have always taken steps to remove drivers we do not feel are fit and proper people from the roads.”
Haq finally lost his hackney carriage license at an appeal hearing at Gosforth Magistrates’ Court.
Asa Anderson, prosecuting, told the court Haq was arrested on June 7, 2006.
He said: “At 3.50am on Wednesday, June 7, police received a telephone call from a female in Gateshead.
“She stated that a male taxi driver who had just dropped her and her friend off was outside committing a lewd act.
“The police stated that the two 16-year-old female victims claim that throughout their journey with this driver from The Gate complex in Newcastle, the driver was asking them about their favourite sexual positions, asking them to show their breasts and asking them to sexually touch each other.”
Haq pleaded guilty to a charge of outraging public decency at Newcastle Crown Court on February 15 this year and was sentenced to a 12-month community order, with 12 months’ supervision, and 75 hours of unpaid work.
Two months later, he appeared before a council licensing meeting and was told his license was being revoked.
But he lodged an immediate appeal, leaving him free to carry on cabbying until his Gosforth Magistrates' Court hearing – more than six months later.
Chairman of the bench David Mearns concluded Haq was not a fit and proper person to be a hackney carriage driver.
Haq was ordered to pay £735 costs.
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Pervert Haq and his diary of disgrace
December 1999: Haq awarded hackney carriage license.
May 2001: Haq’s license suspended amid allegations he indecently assaulted a female passenger.
December 2001: A trial fails to reach a verdict over indecent assault allegation and a re-trial is ordered.
February 2002: Haq cleared of indecent assault in trial after police officer had mouthed ‘liar liar’ to jury.
July 2002: Newcastle City Council refuse to renew Haq’s license, saying his behaviour was still inappropriate.
January 2003: Haq wins court appeal against the refusal to renew his badge and he’s back on the roads.
June 2006: Haq charged with indecent exposure after complaint from two 16-year-old passengers. Haq suspended but appeals, leaving him free to work.
November 2006: Haq loses appeal at Magistrates’ Court but appeals to the Crown Court, leaving him free to work.
January 2007: Haq’s Crown Court appeal withdrawn and Haq no longer allowed to drive.
February 2007: Haq pleads guilty to outraging public decency and sentenced to a 12-month community order and 75 hours unpaid work.
April 2007: Newcastle City Council strip Haq of his hackney carriage badge but he appeals, meaning he can continue working the roads until his next hearing.
October 2007: Haq loses his appeal at Gosforth Magistrates’ Court and finally loses his license.
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