Wellingborough taxi driver has licence renewed despite drunken scuffle with a police officer

A Wellingborough hackney carriage taxi driver has had his licence renewed despite getting caught up in a physical altercation with a police officer during a drunken night out.

The unnamed driver was granted his licence, which would normally go against the council's policy on anyone that has a criminal record, on the grounds that he was extremely remorseful and was not considered a future threat to the public.

On the night of the incident, the driver got caught up in an altercation with a man after drink was thrown over him. He retaliated out of character and ended up with a common assault charge against a police officer.

After the incident he pleaded guilty to the charge, including a charge of contravening the public order act. The taxi driver's licensing hearing was held on 16 September, where committee members made the exception and decided to renew his licence.

The council's decision to allow the man to continue was based on the fact that he was very remorseful and along with strong character references, it was considered that a repeat of such incidents would be unlikely.

The council's licensing sub-committee agreed that the man could still be considered a fit-and-proper-person to hold a hackney carriage licence.

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