Taxi Driver Online

Some other stuff from the P&J here - like the whole Uber thing in Aberdeen, they've been going to town on this one

But pick the bones from all this...

Lots of rehash, so you have to read closely to find any nuggets.

As regards the first piece here, I can't understand why she didn't do this in the first place if it was feasible


Revealed: Wife of Inverness rapist applies for own taxi operator’s licence one week after council decision to renew his

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... s-licence/

David Brown was convicted of raping an 18-year-old passenger in his taxi in 2023.

The wife of Inverness rapist David Brown applied for her own taxi operator’s licence one week after the decision to renew his, The Press & Journal can reveal.

Members of Highland Council’s licensing committee decided to allow David Brown to keep his operator’s licence, despite an objection from Police Scotland.

Brown, 50, of Croy near Inverness, was sentenced to six years and nine months in May for raping an 18-year-old female passenger in December 2023.

He was sentenced in May this year after a trial.

The item was discussed behind closed doors.

But The Press & Journal understands councillors who backed the licence did not want to punish Brown’s wife for her husband’s crimes.

They apparently heard she needed the income from the taxi to provide for her family.

We can, however, reveal the taxi rapist’s wife, Anne-Marie Brown, applied for her own operator’s licence one week later, on July 1.

Original decision to be reviewed at full council meeting

Some councillors have told us they felt physically sick when they read a police report from senior officers urging them to refuse the application.

It is also understood female members at the council are angry at what they see as misogyny within the local authority.

And the vote has caused uproar, with the council’s top legal officer taking the rare step of filing documents to have the decision reviewed.

It means the 74 councillors who are not on the local authority’s licensing committee will now have to receive specialist legal training before they take a decision at full council.

Councillor Willie Mackay has since resigned, while three of the other five councillors who voted not to suspend his taxi operator’s licence have resigned from the licensing committee.

Wife of Inverness taxi rapist applies for own operator’s licence

Following Highland Council’s decision to review the outcome, Anne-Marie Brown has applied for her own taxi operator licence to be granted.

The Press & Journal has reached out to Mrs Brown over her decision to apply and why she did not take this route prior to applying for the renewal of her husband’s operator licence.

We have also contacted all councillors involved in the decision to ask, if this was a potential option, why they never refused the licence in the taxi rapist’s name.

Two have declined, while we await responses from several others.

This should really get into the nitty gritty of licensing procedures, but doesn't really explain them in full. But, of course, as usual this was before any conviction. I'd guess that in the likes of Fife he'd be off the road immediately, though


Exclusive: Five male councillors voted to allow Inverness rapist to keep DRIVING taxi one month after attack on teenage female passenger

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In January 2024, five members of the Highland licensing committee argued that David Brown was a “fit and proper person to hold a licence”

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Five Highland councillors voted to allow an Inverness man to keep driving his taxi one month after he had raped a female passenger, The Press and Journal can reveal.

David Brown, 50, of Croy near Inverness, was sentenced to six years and nine months in May for raping an 18-year-old female passenger in December 2023.

The Press and Journal revealed last week that six male councillors had voted to allow David Brown to keep his taxi operator’s licence despite opposition from all the female members of Highland Council’s licensing committee and an objection submitted by Police Scotland.

Following the exclusive, four of the six councillors who voted not to suspend his taxi operator’s licence, which is required to guarantee those running a taxi business ensure their bookings, vehicles and drivers meet the necessary safety standards, have resigned from the licensing committee.

Former chairman Sean Kennedy, John Grafton, Duncan Macpherson and Willie Mackay have left the committee, with the last one also resigning completely as a councillor.

Some of them argued that they made their decision because they wanted to protect David Brown’s wife, who asked for the licence to be continued to provide for her family.

However, we can now reveal that three of them had also previously voted to allow Mr Brown to keep his taxi driver’s licence, which permits someone to drive a taxi, in the weeks following the horrific rape.

Councillors argued rapist was a ‘fit and proper person’

On January 9 in 2024 members of Highland Council’s licensing committee were asked to decide whether to suspend David Brown’s taxi driver’s licence.

The meeting came 37 days after he had raped a female passenger after driving past her home and pulling into layby.

Councillors had access to a report from Police Scotland, who had a representative present at the meeting. Brown himself was also in attendance.

The discussion took place just over a month after he had been charged with rape.

He had picked up an 18-year-old passenger after a night out in Inverness. Instead of taking her home, he drove her to a secluded lay-by between Strathpeffer and Dingwall, where he raped her before abandoning her in Dingwall in sub-zero temperatures.

Councillor Paul Oldham lodged a motion to suspend Mr Brown’s taxi driver’s licence because he believed he was not “a fit and proper person to hold a licence.” It was seconded by councillor Emma Knox.

However, an amendment was proposed to take no action on the licence. This was lodged by councillor Drew Millar and seconded by Sean Kennedy.

Three other councillors voted not to suspend the licence; Duncan Macpherson, John Grafton and John Bruce. All five argued he was “a fit and proper person to hold a licence.”

However, the committee ultimately agreed to suspend David Brown’s taxi driver’s licence following a 6 – 5 vote.

This was due to the votes from councillors Jackie Hendry, Lyndsey Johnston, Emma Knox, Karl Rosie, Paul Oldham and Willie Mackay.

Later in the meeting, the committee was also invited to determine whether to suspend David Brown’s taxi operator’s licence.

Councillors unanimously agreed to refuse the request to suspend it.

The operator’s licence was then reviewed again last month after Brown was jailed after being found guilty of rape, where councillors again voted to take no action.

‘Not enough information on the day to make clear decision’

Councillor John Grafton was one of the six male councillors who voted for David Brown to keep his taxi operator’s licence at the private meeting on June 23.

Since then, the Caol and Mallaig representative has resigned from the licensing committee and has been expelled from the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

The West Coast councillor was also one of the five male councillors who thought David Brown was a fit and proper person to hold a taxi driver’s licence back in January 2024.

When asked by The P&J why he made this choice, he argued that he felt there was not enough information available to make “a clear decision” on the day.

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He said: “You’re now asking me to go back two years in time. Excuse me if I’m a bit vague on that one.

“From what I remember, the matter hadn’t come to court and as is the case in many of these instances, the sergeant couldn’t give us any information basically about that.

“So, I believe that on the day, it was felt that this information was actually needed in order to make a clear decision. From what I remember.”

‘I felt it was the right thing at the time’

We also asked councillor Mr Bruce why he decided to vote for David Brown to keep his taxi driver’s licence in 2024.

The Conservative councillor said that it felt “the right thing to do” at the time.

However, he added that he “cannot really comment” as he “can’t really remember” what happened because the vote was “too long ago”.

He said: “I honestly can’t remember. But I felt it was the right thing to do at the time.

“I can’t comment on something that’s happened in 2024. Because it was too long ago, my memory doesn’t work in detail back to that date.

“So, I can’t really comment on any of this.”

‘Not punishing men who have abused women is recurring voting pattern’

Sources claim there is a recurring “pattern” of male councillors voting not to punish men’s abusive behaviour towards women.

It is understood the vote from five councillors not to take any action against David Brown’s taxi driver’s licence in January 2024 also caused uproar within the council.

Their vote back then has been labelled as “even worse” than last month’s decision.

Councillors Sean Kennedy, Duncan Macpherson and Drew Millar have all been asked for comment.

At the time of publication, they have not replied.

Oh, woe is me

More insight into the mind of a licensing councillor, though


Highland councillor blames ‘tech problems’ for controversial decision in rapist taxi driver row

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... interview/

John Grafton lifted the lid on the behind-closed-doors meeting to The P&J after being kicked out of the Lib Dems for his part in the controversy.

But top members of the Scottish Liberal Democrats have now decided to “expel Councillor Grafton with immediate effect”.

Today, The Press and Journal spoke to John Grafton following the decision.

The now former Lib Dem member told us he “would have liked” to take part in the meeting in which his fate was decided – but was “not invited”.

However, he understands why this was the case and accepts that members of his former party made “the decision that they needed to make.”

Speaking about the controversy that has turned his life upside down, Mr Grafton now feels that he made the wrong decision in the licensing meeting.

However, he added that “there’s a lot of things that potentially could have been different” on the day.

The West Coast representative said that he is not planning to resign as councillor, at least for now.

He even added that trying to get re-elected in the election next year is not “off the cards”.

John Grafton ‘not invited’ to meeting in which he was expelled from party

Mr Grafton explained that he was “not invited” to the meeting to discuss his fate in the party while adding that he “would have liked to” attend.

However, he said that he “admits” and “accepts” the party’s decision, adding that “they did what they needed to do”.

He told The P&J: “They held a meeting yesterday, which I wasn’t invited to.

“And as much as I would have liked to have been able to hear their views and maybe put some comments, I understand why they did that.

“They made the decision that they needed to make. So, basically, I accept that. And there’s no malice. They did what they needed to do.”

Highland councillor looks back at ‘unfortunate day’

On June 23, six male councillors voted to allow David Brown to retain the operator licence under his name.

Brown was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison in May for raping an 18-year-old female passenger in December 2023.

The vote has caused uproar within the council, with its top legal officer taking the extreme step to file documents to have the decision reviewed and possibly overturned in a major upcoming meeting.

Mr Grafton previously told us that he now realises that he made “the wrong decision”.

But the former licensing committee member said that he would have liked to have the chance to explain his former party members what went wrong that day.

Mr Grafton added: “I would have liked to speak to them face to face. I would have liked to see them. I would have liked to hear their reasoning.

“That would have helped me. And maybe I would have liked to answer any questions that they might have had. That would have been my preference.

“That’s probably a need because I’m autistic. I tend to do things differently. So, that’s another difference.

“But they did what they need to do. And that’s okay.”

‘We could have come up with better solutions’

He continued: “I would have liked to hear their position and what they knew and what they understood. And that would determine what I said back to them.

“It was an unfortunate day. And there was a lot of things happening.

“I think if you were to replay that day now, it would take a very different shape. And I don’t think that is just the six councillors and the way they voted. There’s a lot of things that potentially could have been different.

“But I’ve only realised that looking back at it now. I think we should have spent more time on that particular decision.

“We had technical problems on the day we had to move rooms. It was very disorientating. It was an awkward day in all for many, many reasons.

“And if we’d have looked at it more intensely, I think we could have come up with some better solutions. And I think that is the mistake that was made on the day. That’s my personal opinion.”

Expelled Lib Dem councillor says running for next year’s election ‘not off the cards’

John Grafton told the Press and Journal that, at least for now, he has no plans to resign as councillor.

He added that trying to be re-elected next year is “not off the cards”, but says that he is “not making any decisions” yet.

He explained: “There’s a meeting in September, which I would like to go to, where the full council will discuss this. There are things that as a councillor, I am still doing.

“Whether I’ll be able to finish them, I don’t know. But I still need to put some attention into that.

“And about the elections in about a year, there’s a lot that can happen in that time. So I’m not going to make any predictions.

“I’m not currently going to resign, but as you’ve seen over the last week, things can change very quickly.”

This is about the same committee, but about short-term let licence applications - this relates to guest houses and B&Bs etc.

But it's all obviously relevant to the fit and proper stuff.

The two articles are about the same application, in the main.

But, again, it's all a bit head-scratching

Whatever the limitations of the information available, why did he ever think the individual would be suitable for a licence?

And I suspect what he says in his defence is to a large extent garbage as regards information and procedures etc. And, again, he give the distinct impression that he doesn't even know what the processes and procedures are


Exclusive: Former Highland licensing committee chairman was ONLY PERSON on group to back sex attacker Kevin Booth’s short-term let licence bid

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Despite a police objection, Sean Kennedy argued Caithness millionaire Kevin Booth was a “fit and proper person to hold a short-term let licence.”

The former chairman of Highland Council’s licensing committee backed the short-term let licence application submitted by a millionaire jailed for indecently assaulting his female employee, The Press and Journal can reveal.

Sean Kennedy, who recently resigned from the committee after voting not to suspend the taxi operator’s licence of convicted rapist David Brown, argued former racing tipster Kevin Booth was “a fit and proper person to hold a short-term let licence”.

The councillor, who we revealed had also voted against the suspension of Brown’s taxi driver’s licence, was the only licensing committee member who thought approving Booth’s holiday rental was appropriate during a meeting on May 7, 2024.

Not a single other member of the committee, which he headed up at the time as chairman, backed his bid to approve the licence.

That day councillors heard an objection from Police Scotland, who recommended not to grant the licence to Booth.

He had previously been sentenced to two years in jail after being convicted of indecently assaulting his Brazilian au pair at Bradford Crown Court in 2002.

When Highland Council’s licencing committee meeting took place in May 2024, police officers were already investigating a further complaint from another former female employee.

Just over a year later, in February 2025, he was giving a travel ban after a court found he had carried out “a systematic course of conduct of acts of human trafficking and exploitation,” over many years.

And last November, he was remanded in custody after being accused of multiple rapes, indecent assaults and abduction.

Short-term licence applicant abused women in underground dungeon

In May 2024, councillors reviewed Kevin Booth’s application for a short-term let licence for a property in the tiny settlement of Altnabreac.

Less than a year later, in February 2025, Wick Sheriff Court imposed him a travel ban after hearing Booth had regularly travelled abroad to recruit vulnerable women from poor countries.

Once isolated and within his control, he beat them.

During the civil case, evidence was given that Booth attacked the women at an Egyptian-themed underground chamber.

Videos played in court repeatedly showed the millionaire torturing his victims.

However, this was not the first time Booth had been found to be abusive towards women.

During the civil case, Sheriff Neil Wilson said Booth had committed acts of human trafficking and exploitation over many years.

Back in 2002, he was jailed for two years after indecently assaulting his Brazilian au pair.

In 2019, police searched his large home in the Highlands following allegations made about his conduct.

He later appeared in court in private, but a procurator fiscal discontinued the proceedings in 2021.

In 2023 a former employee made a complaint to Police Scotland about Booth’s conduct to her when she was employed by him at the lodge between June and December 2022.

And in November 2025, he was remanded in custody after being accused of eight rapes, indecent assaults and abduction.

But it is not just women Booth has been abusive towards.

In 1991, he was charged with assaulting children in his care at a school.

And in 1994, he was convicted after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court of five charges of assaulting children and a further charge of failing to surrender to bail.

Sean Kennedy only member to back Kevin Booth’s short-term licence bid

On May 7, 2024, councillors discussed a short-term application submitted by Kevin Booth for a property in Altnabreac.

The committee heard from the Booth and Police Scotland, who had submitted a letter of objection.

After hearing from both, councillor Lyndsey Johnson filed a motion to refuse the application “on the grounds that the applicant was not a fit and proper person for the reasons given by Police Scotland in their letter of objection.”

It was seconded by councillor Emma Knox.

But councillor Sean Kennedy decided to lodge an amendment for the application to be approved.

His argument was based “on the grounds Booth was a fit and proper person to hold a short term let licence”.

However, the licensing committee chairman failed to find support from anyone else in the room.

It meant the licensing committee ultimately decided to refuse the application.

Mr Kennedy has been contacted to comment by The Press and Journal. He did not respond.


Former Highland licensing chairman admits he ‘knew’ about sex offender’s past but says ‘he couldn’t bring it up’

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Sean Kennedy, the former chairman of Highland Council's licensing committee, was the only councillor to back a short-term let licence for sex offender Kevin Booth.

The former chairman of Highland Council’s licensing committee has said a convicted abuser’s crimes were not “presented” to them when the committee was asked to decide if he was a “fit and proper person” to hold a short-term let licence.

“I knew what he’d done but I also knew that I couldn’t bring this up” was what Sean Kennedy, a Dingwall and Seaforth councillor, said when asked about his decisions.

The councillor recently resigned from his position as chairman of the licensing committee after it was revealed he was part of a decision to grant a convicted rapist a taxi operator licence.

But now another one of the committee’s decisions has been brought under scrutiny.

‘I knew what Mr Booth was about, but I was told I couldn’t bring that in’

Kevin Booth is a convicted sex offender and abuser with a long list of offences dating back as far as 1994 with his most recent conviction in 2025.

The millionaire owns several properties in Altnabreac, Caithness, including his infamous Lochdhu Lodge where he was convicted of beating and sexually offending women who he had employed to work at his home.

In 2023 Booth applied for a short-term let licence from Highland Council for one of his smaller properties at the remote settlement.

The application first came to Mr Kennedy’s committee in August 2023 accompanied by an objection from Police Scotland – the committee voted to defer the application until Booth could be present at the meeting.

Booth’s application came back in September, again with an objection from Police Scotland, but this time the committee was split – with three voting to refuse the application and three voting to defer it.

As chairman of the committee at the time it was Mr Kennedy’s vote that carried the decision to defer until the outcome of Booth’s criminal case that he was undergoing at the time had concluded.

When asked why, he stated: “I knew what Mr Booth was about, but I was told you can’t bring that in because that isn’t what’s been presented to us at the moment.

“I think, if I remember rightly, there was something that had been said that it wasn’t quite straightforward and I think it was probably to defer it to get more information – I honestly can’t remember.

“It’s what’s in front of us on the day that I try to – not even to judge – it’s making my decisions on.”

Woman applied for licences for property owned by sex offender

Highland Council’s policy for short-term let licensing states when considering if someone is a “fit and proper person” to hold a licence, “consideration will be given to a wide range of information including relevant criminal convictions” and “other relevant information provided by Police Scotland”.

When asked again, Mr Kennedy was adamant: “I can assure you they never came, as I recall. We didn’t see them in any paper.”

But he felt “100% they should have been”.

In May 2024 Booth applied again. This time it was Mr Kennedy who voted to grant the licence but, as he failed to gain support from any other committee member, Booth’s application was refused.

The following year, in January, a woman applied for an short-term let licence for two properties within Altnabreac which we understand also belonged to Booth.

Police Scotland spoke at the application and the committee was divided, four wanted to refuse and four wanted to grant her the licence.

Again, as chairman, it was Mr Kennedy’s vote that swayed the committee to grant her the application.

In February 2025, Booth had been issued a worldwide travel ban by the courts after it was found he had used a hidden underground chamber at his lodge to abuse vulnerable women he had exploited.

The woman applied again in April 2025 for the same property Booth had tried to apply for in 2023 and 2024.

But this time the committee voted to refuse her application and revoke the licences she held for the other properties in Altnabreac, on public safety grounds.

As the meeting was held in private and it related to an individual application, the council cannot comment but when asked if it could back up Mr Kennedy’s claim it said: “Members had all relevant information before them.”

‘We work totally and utterly on guesswork’

In an interview with the Inverness Courier, Mr Kennedy also described being licensing committee chairman as a “poisoned chalice”.

He said decisions are made extremely difficult at times due to the limited information being presented to them – an issue that he says is even more pressing when debates are held in private.

Mr Kennedy explained that with public decisions they are “told everything”, but private discussions are “utterly different”.

The non-aligned councillor, who resigned from the Highland Independents last week, was asked whether committee members would get told whether a taxi driver had been charged with sexual or domestic abuse offences.

“If he was charged I think we would be given that,” he said. “If it was only an investigation – sub-judicial – we know nothing about it.

“So I could say ‘What has Mr X done?’ They can’t tell you. ‘Did Mr X do it to a man? Did he do it to a woman?’ We wouldn’t get told.

“‘What time of day did it happen at?’ We wouldn’t be told. The police would just say ‘It’s sub-judicial, can’t tell you’. But if he was charged you might be able to get that.”

He added: “We’re working totally and utterly on guesswork.”