Middlesborough Council licensing panel finds PHV driver remains ‘fit and proper’ following investigation into alleged inappropriate comments
- Perry Richardson
- 46 minutes ago
- 2 min read
A private hire vehicle driver has been allowed to retain his licence following a safeguarding-related review by Middlesbrough Council’s Licensing Committee.
The case centred on allegations that the driver made inappropriate sexual comments to a 16-year-old passenger during a journey in November 2025. After considering the evidence, councillors determined the driver remained a “fit and proper person” to continue operating.
The driver, who has been licensed since March 2025, appeared before the committee after the council received a report from his operator outlining the allegations. The incident was said to have taken place on 25 November 2025 during a journey to a local college.
Further information was provided by the student’s college, where a staff member had overheard a conversation about the incident and subsequently obtained an account from the passenger. Licensing officers later took a formal statement from the student in December 2025.
The driver was interviewed by licensing officers and denied the allegations in full. During the committee hearing, the student attended alongside a family member and repeated her account of events. The driver was given the opportunity to question the witness but declined to do so.
In his defence, the driver stated he recalled the journey but disputed the nature of the interaction. He told members the only issue during the trip related to asking the passenger to remove her feet from the seat due to wet conditions, suggesting this may have led to a negative reaction.
The committee also considered the driver’s conduct history, which included a previous warning issued in November 2025 for inappropriate parking and the use of foul language during a dispute with a resident. The driver acknowledged the incident and said he had reacted after being verbally abused.
Additional scrutiny was given to inconsistencies identified during the investigation. These included the driver initially stating he did not have a social media account, which was later found to be incorrect, and limited recall of safeguarding training despite having completed a recognised course earlier in 2025.
Under Section 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the committee has the authority to suspend or revoke a licence where there is evidence of misconduct or for any other reasonable cause. Members also considered the council’s licensing policy, which allows action to be taken even where no criminal conviction has been secured.
After weighing the evidence from both parties, the committee concluded that, on balance, the driver should retain his licence. Members determined that he continued to meet the required standard, noting his account, limited complaint history and positive feedback recorded through his operator.
The decision means the driver’s licence, which was due to expire at the end of February 2026, can now proceed through the renewal process following the conclusion of the review.
