Crown Court dismisses appeal by taxi driver over revocation of licence

A hackney carriage driver has lost their appeal to the Crown Court against Guildford Borough Council's decision to revoke their licence.

The council said it had revoked the driver's licence in July 2019 for a number of reasons, “including having a poor record of vehicle maintenance by failing to ensure it was roadworthy and safe for customers, and driving without an MOT certificate”.

The local authority also received several complaints about the driver's behaviour, including the driver being on a Skype call whilst driving a passenger.

The driver had unsuccessfully appealed to the Magistrates Court in December 2019 and lodged a further appeal to the Crown Court which was dismissed following a hearing on 12 August 2020.

The Crown Court awarded the council £1,800 in costs, on top of the £2,137 awarded by the Magistrates Court.

Cllr James Steel, Lead Councillor of Environment at Guildford, said:  "We are pleased with the court's decision to dismiss this appeal, these decisions are not taken lightly. We have a duty to ensure the safety and protection of our residents, visitors and those who work in Guildford and they can be confident that their journeys with our licensed taxis will be safe.”