Middlesbrough Council private hire driver stripped of licence after allegations involving vulnerable schoolchildren

Middlesbrough Council has immediately revoked a private hire driver’s licence following allegations concerning his conduct while transporting vulnerable children on a home-to-school contract.

The Licensing Committee determined the case at its meeting on 22 June 2026. Members concluded that the driver was not safe, suitable or fit and proper to hold a licence, with the revocation taking immediate effect in the interests of public safety.

The driver, licensed by Middlesbrough Council since April 2023, had been contracted by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council’s transport team to carry four children with special educational or complex needs to and from a Middlesbrough school during January and February 2026.

A complaint was received by Middlesbrough’s Licensing Manager on 24 February following a referral from the school’s head teacher. The committee was told that one child alleged the driver had repeatedly used racist, offensive and abusive language, made derogatory remarks about members of the public, mocked a vulnerable passenger and made comments of a sexual nature.

Redcar and Cleveland’s transport team suspended the driver from school transport duties after receiving the information. The local authority’s designated officer found that the referral met the threshold for formal management procedures because the driver worked directly with children in a position of trust.

An allegations management meeting took place on 4 March involving the school, licensing officers, the designated officer and members of the transport team. The meeting concluded, on the balance of probability, that the concerns were substantiated. The driver’s school transport contract was ended and other local authority transport teams were to be informed.

The driver denied the allegations apart from admitting that he swore on one occasion after another vehicle pulled out in front of him. His representative challenged the evidence, arguing that statements had not been obtained directly from the children and that there were inconsistencies in the accounts provided.

Committee members placed weight on the assessments of the head teacher and designated officer, who considered the children credible and found no reason to believe they had been dishonest. Members accepted that vulnerable children would not ordinarily be expected to provide formal statements or attend a licensing hearing for questioning.

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The committee also found inconsistencies in the driver’s explanations. Members noted differences between what he told his operator and what he later told council licensing officers about the incident in which he admitted swearing.

Evidence was also considered about an occasion when a member of school staff intervened after the driver was reportedly bad-tempered and rude towards a child who was slightly late and closed the vehicle door too forcefully. The driver maintained that he had not intended his behaviour to be perceived in that way.

Councillors said the driver had been placed in a significant position of trust over vulnerable children and should have understood his safeguarding responsibilities. He had previously worked in private hire management for more than 20 years before returning to driving in 2024.

The committee applied the civil standard of proof, meaning the allegations were assessed on the balance of probability rather than the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt. Statutory taxi licensing standards state that a driver should not retain a licence where the authority remains evenly divided over whether they are fit and proper.

The licence was revoked under Section 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 for “any other reasonable cause”. The driver has the right to appeal to a magistrates’ court within 21 days of receiving notice of the decision.