Taxi Driver Online

Cabbie given licence back after assault


TAXI driver David Clift has been allowed his licence back after magistrates overturned a council ruling.

Stafford Borough Council had refused the cabbie a licence after he was jailed last year for an assault.

Clift, aged 45, of Walton Grange, Stafford Road, Stone, appeared before magistrates to ask for the council decision to be overturned.

The victim and his girlfriend were in bed at home when Clift and an accomplice broke in to his house and beat him up in the early hours.

Clift was jailed for 15 months in January 2008 at Stafford Crown Court after admitting the assault.

He had previously been a taxi driver with K Cabs, of Stone.

But he was refused a licence in July because the council said the conviction demonstrated he was 'not a fit and proper person' to hold one.

Council solicitor Simon Turner said the policy of the local authority was designed to protect the public and that someone who had been convicted of violence would not be eligible to hold a licence until at least three years after the conviction.

Richard Oldroyd, for the appellant, said although it had been a serious offence it was "not indicative of anything he has done in the past or anything he has done since".

Allowing the appeal, magistrates' chairman Marika Holden said: "Because of your exemplary previous record before the offence and your attitude since, along with your regret and remorse, we feel that the public is sufficiently protected."

She added in their opinion Clift was a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Bad decision, really bad decision.

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IDFIMH