Posted on the 10th September 2026 in PHTM News
DEAN TAXIS DRIVER FIRED AFTER INAPPROPRIATE REMARKS TO WOMAN AND UNANNOUNCED HOME VISIT
A private hire driver has been sacked from a Gateshead firm and had his licence suspended after allegedly making inappropriate remarks to a female passenger and later showing up at her home unannounced.
The incident came to light after the partner of the passenger shared details and pictures on social media. The post stated that the driver made inappropriate comments during a journey home, leaving the lone woman "terrified" and "scared for her life".
Matters escalated when the driver subsequently tracked down the woman and knocked on her door without a valid booking.
Dean Taxis acted swiftly after receiving a complaint. In a statement, the company said management had explicitly instructed the driver not to contact or visit the customer. When evidence emerged that he ignored this directive, he was called to a disciplinary meeting and dismissed on the spot for breaching conduct policies.
The firm stated: "We are aware of a post currently circulating on social media regarding an incident between a driver and a female customer that took place a few weeks ago.
"First and foremost, we offer our most sincere apologies to the customer involved and to anyone distressed by this situation.
"We have been in contact with both the customer to confirm that this individual no longer drives for Dean Taxis. We are grateful that the customer has thanked us for everything we are doing to resolve this. She expressed her appreciation for our quick response and shared that she is a frequent customer who has always found our other drivers to be "absolutely lovely," noting that this was her first negative experience with us."
Dean Taxis confirmed they have permanently severed ties with the driver and officially escalated the matter to both Northumbria Police and Newcastle City Council's head of licensing.
The company noted that private hire and hackney carriage drivers undergo rigorous council vetting and DBS checks before joining the fleet, adding that the dismissed driver's actions did not reflect the values of their other courteous professionals.
Newcastle City Council subsequently suspended the driver's licence pending a police investigation.
Councillor Owen Burbidge, cabinet member for inclusive economy and skills, said: “Safety is our absolute priority. Our taxi licensing standards are designed to protect all passengers, particularly women, girls and vulnerable people.”
He added that the council will investigate concerns and take enforcement action when standards are not met to ensure passengers can travel free from harassment or abuse.
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