Bolton minicab driver allegedly 'locked woman in car and kidnapped her for an hour'A MINICAB driver described as "predatory" was investigated by police for allegedly kidnapping a lone female passenger.
The licence belonging to the private hire driver, whose identity has not been revealed, was revoked by Bolton Council's licensing sub-committee at a behind-closed-doors meeting.
Members were told the man was a relatively new licence holder who engaged in "a pattern of inappropriate behaviour with young vulnerable females" as well smoking cannabis and meeting women by offering them lifts.
Minutes of the meeting say: "The incident which the police had investigated related to the driver allegedly locking a lone female passenger in his vehicle.
"He then proceeded to drive around for an hour while the driver stroked her legs in a sexual manner and also asked to see her breasts.
"The driver denied these allegations and stated the passenger went willingly and claimed that he was clocked off at the time.
"The driver admitted using cannabis but denied supplying drugs or that he had done drugs while he was working as a taxi driver.
"He also claimed that he had stopped smoking cannabis and engaging in casual sex."
GMP probed the kidnap allegation but took no further action.
The committee minutes reveal: "During a police interview the driver admitted that he meets women by offering to drive them around and do favours for them.
"The officer in charge described his behaviour as predatory and expressed concerns that he might be targeting vulnerable young women by this method."
Bolton Council's licensing sub-committee withdrew the driver's licence at the private meeting on March 8.
Among the evidence considered by the sub-committee was contact initiated by the driver on Facebook with females and "talk of use of spliffs and joints" and "text messages which included reference to cannabis and possible supply of drugs and taxi driving and inappropriate conduct".
The sub-committee had "concern about possible grooming in this case" and it noted its "primary duty is of concern for the safety and wellbeing of the public".
The driver gave evidence to the meeting and denied both the kidnapping allegation and the police suggestion he plied for trade on the street instead of collecting pre-booked fares only.
source:
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/ ... _an_hour_/
Login
Register
FAQ
