Former taxi driver who drove woman to remote road has bid to get licence back rejectedhttps://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... e-16188517Mohammed Rahman was found not guilty of sexual assault at trial in 2017
Image: Gazette LiveA former taxi driver who took a lone female passenger to a darkened road in Middlesbrough has had his bid to get his licence back rejected.
Mohammed Rahman, of Cumberland Road, Linthorpe, lost his appeal against a Stockton Council decision on Friday afternoon at Teesside Magistrates' Court (April 26).
The court heard how Mr Rahman got in the back seat of his taxi with a teenage student in December 2016 - kissing her hand and putting his arm around her after driving around the town for an hour and a half.
He was challenged at the scene by two men who filmed the confrontation and posted the video on Youtube.
The 37-year-old was found not guilty of sexual assault at trial in 2017.
But magistrates decided, on the balance of probabilities, he was "not a fit and proper person" to hold a private hire licence after a four hour hearing.
Mr Rahman picked up the 19-year-old student, who had been asked to leave her family’s home after an argument on the night of December 8.
She was taken to a Normanby hotel but it was closed and they later stopped on Dockside Road, Middlehaven.
'A fit and proper person'The court heard how the ex-Boro Cars employee had logged out of work at 12.55am and that he had intended to go home to his wife and family.
But Mr Rahman picked up the lone female and he told the court he'd spotted her earlier in the night.
He claimed the student had directed him to go down Dockside Road after he drove her around the town for between 90 minutes and two hours in the small hours of the morning.
Mr Rahman admitted he had kissed the woman's hand and put his arm around her without being asked.
Chris Morrison, a solicitor on behalf of Stockton Council, said he didn't agree with Mr Rahman's claims he was being a good Samaritan given the "secluded" spot where they were found and challenged.
Mr Morrison said: "As far as we are concerned, there are some behaviours here which are so far away from ordinary decent behaviour of a fit and proper person - especially with regard to public safety."
And he questioned why Mr Rahman had asked the woman if she had a boyfriend, why he had picked her up after he had clocked off and why the pair had ended up on Dockside Road.
Mr Morrison added: "This is not a quiet residential street, this is the very opposite of that - it's somewhere where help is not at hand and if you cry out nobody can help you and it's so dark, if something happens nobody can see it."
The court also heard the young woman was in a "upset and vulnerable state".
Mr Morrison said: "It rather looks like what it is I'm afraid - someone who had taken advantage of a vulnerable young lady - that, in anybody's measure, is not a fit and proper person."
Solicitor Anthony Schiller, on behalf of Mr Rahman, said he had no concerns against his name before the events of that night - and pointed to how his client was found not guilty on two previous occasions, once for sexual assault and another for illegally plying for hire.
'Deliberately deviated'He also suggested CCTV could be fitted in taxis used by Mr Rahman if magistrates gave him his licence back.
But the panel was not convinced.
Chairman of the bench Kevin Morris said Mr Rahman had "deliberately deviated" from his way home from North Ormesby.
And he added there were plenty of other places he could have gone to help the girl - including Boro Taxis headquarters.
Mr Morris added: "We do not believe you were acting in the best interests of the young lady at the time of the incident,
"Therefore, on the balance of probabilities, we do not believe you are a fit and proper person to hold a licence."
Mr Rahman was ordered to pay £800 in court costs.
Login
Register
FAQ
