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Posted on the 3rd June 2025 in PHTM News
MIDDLESBROUGH PH DRIVER LOSES LICENCE AMIDST "THROAT GRAB" CLAIM AND "SEXUAL VIOLENCE" THREATS
A private hire driver, who claimed he was grabbed by the throat during an unbooked fare, has had his licence revoked by Middlesbrough Council's Licensing Committee.
The decision, made months before his licence was due to expire, stems from what councillors deemed "abusive and threatening" messages, including a "serious threat of sexual violence," exchanged with a female passenger.
The driver, licensed with Middlesbrough Council since May 2024, saw his account suspended by his operator in late January 2025 after taking a direct booking and messaging a female passenger privately.
While the driver alleged the messages began as requests for payment, the council's minutes confirmed they escalated into "abusive and threatening" content.
During an interview with licensing officers, the driver recounted a harrowing incident where a man allegedly "grabbed him by the throat" and forced him to transport a man and woman to an address. He claimed he complied "out of fear" and that the woman provided her number for payment.
He further alleged his phone was later taken and only returned after he drove the individuals to another location.
Despite his claims of being blackmailed and believing he was communicating with a man, the committee found "inconsistencies in the driver’s account of events." They explicitly stated they "did not believe that he thought he was talking to a man rather than a woman" when sending the "expletive" messages.
The committee's minutes state: "The committee believed that the nature and seriousness of the driver’s messages, specifically the threat of sexual violence, was a risk to public safety, and that the driver was not a 'fit and proper' person, therefore, the decision was made to revoke the driver’s licence with immediate effect."
The driver had reportedly not initially reported the alleged "throat grab" incident to the police, citing he was "terrified" of the individuals. While the matter was subsequently reported, it has since been closed with no further action.
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