Former private hire driver REFUSED Middlesborough licence over past conviction for racially aggravated offence
A former Middlesbrough private hire vehicle driver has been refused a new private hire licence following a review of his previous conduct, which included a conviction for racially aggravated harassment.
The driver, who previously held a licence from 2016 until its revocation in 2019, had reapplied for a new licence in September 2024. However, Middlesbrough Council’s Licensing Committee determined he was not a fit and proper person to be licensed.
The review revealed that his previous licence was revoked after he was found guilty in August 2019 of using racially and religiously aggravated language towards a 15-year-old female passenger. The court convicted him following a trial, sentencing him to fines and additional costs.
The council’s policy states that any applicant with a conviction for discrimination must demonstrate at least seven years of good conduct before reapplying. In this case, only five years had passed since the conviction.
During the hearing, the driver denied using the offensive language, claiming he had been falsely accused. He also stated that he had mistakenly failed to disclose his conviction on his new application form, attributing the error to confusion over the paperwork.
Despite his explanations, the Committee ruled against his application, concluding that the nature of his past offence, combined with his failure to disclose it, rendered him unsuitable for a taxi licence at this time.
The driver has the right to appeal the decision through the Magistrates’ Court within 21 days. If unsuccessful, he may be liable for the council’s legal costs, estimated to be around £1,000.
