Man refused private hire licence after it emerged that he previously admitted to police that he fant

A man has been refused a private hire licence in Bolton after it emerged that he previously admitted to fantasising about having sex with a minor. According to a report in the Bolton News, the man first came on the police’s radar in 2010 after he claimed to be having sexual relations with a neighbour and her daughter who was 14 years of age.

The man made these claims during text messages that he was exchanging with a different woman. The report says that they also exchanged explicit photographs. The woman contacted the police once he told her that he had a sexual relationship with a child, who subsequently arrested and questioned the man. During questioning, he told the police that his claims of sex with a child were false but admitted to saying it to the woman and also told them that he had in fact fantasied about it before. During Bolton’s private hire licensing procedure, the incident was flagged up and the committee decided to refuse him a licence. The man was deemed not to be a “fit and proper” person to hold a licence, relating to regulations which clearly state that “any applicant connected to illegal sexual activity or any form of indecency” should not be granted a licence to drive a private hire vehicle.  

The committee concluded: "Members of the public and in particular, the elderly, infirm and children or vulnerable adults entrust their personal safety and wellbeing to private hire drivers whenever they take a journey. 

"Passengers often travel alone and are vulnerable to inappropriate behaviour. "The sub-committee’s primary duty is of concern for the safety and wellbeing of the public "In summary, based on the applicant’s own admitted conduct, the evidence available and the council’s statement of fitness and suitability there is therefore reasonable cause to refuse to grant the private hire driver’s licence."