Posted on the 24th September 2026 in PHTM News

SOUTHAMPTON PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER LOSES LICENCE AFTER MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS

A Southampton private hire driver who accumulated seven public complaints, a ban from the local port, and an undisclosed speeding offence has had his licence revoked with immediate effect.

Councillors on a licensing sub-committee made the decision during a hearing held behind closed doors on September 16, concluding that the driver was no longer a fit and proper person to hold the driver's licence. The driver chose not to attend the meeting or make representations.

The council's licensing department had received a series of grievances, highlighted by a June incident where a member of the public alleged the PHV nearly caused a crash after travelling in the opposite direction and turning right into a lay-by.

The complainant stated that their sleeping wife was thrown forward and left “shocked and traumatised”, and accused the driver of having “showed absolutely no remorse and offered no apology”.

A further complaint in July alleged the driver was “driving like an absolute idiot, nearly hit oncoming traffic, swerving all over the road” and was “very close to hitting pedestrians”.

Although the driver denied the allegations in emails to compliance officer Kyran O'Neill, he failed to provide requested dashcam footage.

The sub-committee also noted that he had received a three-month ban from Southampton's docks by Associated British Ports last year and breached licence conditions by failing to disclose a speeding offence.

The driver surrendered his vehicle licence and attempted to surrender his driver’s licence but the sub-committee disregarded this in making its decision.

 


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