Wrexham man banned from driving 20 years ago loses bid to get taxi licenceA MAN who was banned from driving for five years more than 20 years ago has failed in his bid to get a taxi licence.
An application by Frederick Roberts, 46, was previously rejected by Flintshire Council’s licensing sub-committee, which ruled he was not a “fit and proper person”.
On Monday, his appeal against the decision at Flintshire Magistrates Court at Mold was rejected and he was ordered to pay £1,470 in costs.
Roberts, of Llys y Coed in Wrexham, had built up a successful garage business which he had since handed over to his son, his solicitor Euros Jones explained.
His client was a family man who worked for his son at the TTS Services Garage at Dobshill. His son was planning to develop a modern taxi business where customers could book via a mobile phone app and pay via their iwatches, and Mr Roberts wanted to be able to drive to help his son out at short notice as and when required.
Mr Jones said his client had not been in trouble for 16 years.
He was jailed in 2002 for bootlegging cigarettes which dated back to the year 2000.
The five-year ban, imposed for a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, went back to 1995.
His client had been punished at the time – and had not received a life sentence, he argued.
Under the rehabilitation of offender’s act if his client wished to apply for a job in his law firm then he would not have to disclose the convictions because they were so old they were spent.
The man who committed the offences all those years ago may have not have been a fit and proper person to have a taxi licence, “but Frederick Roberts in 2016 certainly is,” he argued.
He handed in a large number of personal references which he said included references from councillors on both Wrexham and Flintshire authorities, professional people and business associates.
Barrister Abigail Hudson, for the council, said the committee did have a discretion.
Members had considered that with his record, particularly the five year ban, then Mr Roberts’ application should be rejected.
The policy said applications would not be entertained from people who had been banned for five years or more.
She said Mr Roberts had been jailed for three years and banned from driving for five years in October 1995 for a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
There were other convictions including a three-and-a-half year prison sentence in March 2002 for cigarette smuggling when he had also been banned from driving for two years.
The authority had no details of the offences but had found a media story of the cigarette case on the internet and relied on applicants to give details of their convictions.
Miss Hudson said it should be remembered that taxi drivers were trusted members of society.
They operated a cash business and were in a position where they could drive at all times of the day and night without rousing suspicion
In evidence, Mr Roberts denied her claims that he had tried to minimise his involvement in the offences and said he had answered members’ questions honestly.
“I have changed. I have grown up. I have not even committed a speeding offence since,” he declared.
He was employed by his son now, he had worked as a mechanic but now worked more on the hire side of the company and they had 70 vehicles out on long term hire.
Mr Roberts said he had not tried to hide anything.
source:
http://www.newsnorthwales.co.uk/news/16 ... cence.aspx
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