An armed robber who served five years in jail has been denied a licence to drive a taxi in Bolton.
The applicant, who wished to drive a cab in the borough, was the subject of a licensing hearing by a panel of councillors where two serious offences were disclosed. Recently published minutes of the meeting, which the applicant attended in person, gave details of the reasons he was denied a licence.
The report, said: “Matters were disclosed concerning a conviction in 2004 for possessing an imitation firearm when committing an offence of robbery. The resultant conviction was for five years in prison for each offence, running concurrently.”
The committee unanimously rejected the application after hearing details of the offences. They said: “The council’s statement of fitness and suitability takes an extremely serious view of convictions of violence and the committee were concerned about the very serious nature of the incident.
“The application for a licence to drive a private hire vehicle was refused. The elderly, infirm and children or vulnerable adults entrust their personal safety and well-being to private hire drivers whenever they take a journey.
“Passengers often travel alone and are vulnerable to inappropriate behaviour. Having considered the policy and minimum periods for each offence category, regardless of the period elapsed, the committee is not satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence.”
At the same meeting a second applicant who applied for a taxi licence after details of a criminal conviction for drink driving and an additional offence of speeding were put before the committee.
The panel heard the application had a conviction for driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above the legal limit from April, 2015.
They also heard details of a traffic offence from December 2021 which involved exceeding the speed limit on a motorway. That application was also refused on public safety grounds.
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