A private hire driver who failed to disclose previous convictions and had faced a revocation of a licence from another licensing authority, has lost his badge.
Minutes published by Blackpool City Council highlighted members concerns surrounding the licence of the driver - who was only known as licence holder KUP.
Mr Lee Petrak, Trading Standards and Licensing Manager, who was in attendance outlined the authority’s case which focused on the driver’s failure to declare previous criminal convictions and a driving conviction on his application to be licensed.
In addition, it was reported that KUP had previously held a Private Hire Driver’s Licence with another authority which had subsequently been revoked following an incident in which the driver became involved in a physical altercation with another licensed driver during work time and in a public place.
KUP was in attendance with a representative from his current employer. He expressed regret for not having declared any of the afore mentioned information on his application to be licensed.
He explained that he thought that given the time that had elapsed since his last conviction, they could be considered as spent and that he therefore was unaware of the need to declare them.
He added that it was not a deliberate attempt to deceive on his part.
The driver wished to put the incident which led to his revocation behind him and continue working.
Despite positive input from his colleague and submission of a positive written character reference, the Sub-Committee were not satisfied with the explanations and mitigation provided by the driver.
Furthermore, concerns were also expressed that KUP had effectively been operating under false pretences in Blackpool following the granting of his licence.
Committee members concluded that the right decision was to revoke the Private Hire Driver’s Licence on the grounds that the driver was not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.
They also decided on this occasion it was not necessary to prosecute KUP for failure to declare relevant information on the application to be licensed.
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