Private hire driver, Kamran Nawaz, 37, has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 19-year-old university student passenger.

Nawaz appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court last week and admitted to the crime, which occurred on May 23 of last year in the Anderston area of the city.

The court heard the victim was intoxicated at the time of the assault. Sheriff Allan McKay described the incident, stating: "I have been told that the incident happened in a taxi. He was the driver, he drove the girl to an address and there was contact before she left the taxi."

Evidence presented also indicated the car doors were locked, and the victim reported Nawaz touching her leg and thigh.

Upon arrest, Nawaz claimed: “I only gave her a hug.” However, his lawyer conceded the gravity of his actions, acknowledging it as "opportunistic conduct".

He added: "He should have noted that this was a young, vulnerable woman at the back of his taxi. He accepts that he was wrong to take advantage of the circumstances. He did not misread the signals, there were no signals."

The court also heard that Nawaz has no previous convictions and has a young family.

Sheriff McKay delivered a stern rebuke, telling Nawaz: "I am not certain it was impulsivity. I think it was opportunistic. I think you are a dangerous man and I am concerned you are driving a taxi."

Nawaz was sentenced to six months of supervision, ordered to complete 135 hours of unpaid work, and instructed to pay £300 in compensation to the victim.

Sheriff McKay warned: "This is a serious offence. If you breach the order and come back before me, I will send you to jail."

Furthermore, Nawaz will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for six months.

Following the conviction, Glasgow City Council's licensing board acted swiftly, revoking Nawaz's Private Hire Car Driver's licence on May 28, 2024. The decision to suspend the licence, which was valid until January 31, 2026, was made with immediate effect after a complaint from the Police Scotland chief constable.

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Tracy Hibbert, who has been a taxi driver since 1991, bought a 2019 Ford Transit Custom van in August.

But the following month it failed a council test as the tint in the windows was deemed to be too dark.

Tracy was given six months to address the issue so the windows met Wigan Council’s requirement of letting through 20 per cent of light.

However, she was injured in a fall and unable to work, so could not raise £4,300 to replace the windows.

The van has now been suspended for use as a taxi. Tracy has to wait eight weeks before she can appeal and risks losing her taxi driver plates for good.

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Ipswich Borough Council has revealed its efforts to ensure public safety within its taxi and private hire sector, confirming the revocation of 16 drivers' licences since the beginning of 2020.

The move comes as the council reviews licences, addressing concerns ranging from DVLA issues and medical conditions to more serious allegations flagged by police and other authorities.

According to a council spokesperson, this ongoing process underscores their commitment to passenger well-being.

"The council is responsible for ensuring, as far as possible, the safety of the public when travelling in an Ipswich Borough Council licensed taxi or private hire vehicle," they stated. "To achieve this, we ensure that all licensed taxi and private hire drivers remain fit and proper to continue to hold a licence."

The reasons behind the revocations highlight the seriousness with which the council is treating potential breaches of conduct. Notably, one driver faced licence withdrawal in March of this year following accusations of "four serious allegations of dishonesty."

Furthermore, last year saw Suffolk police intervene in three separate incidents, leading to the arrest or charging of drivers with serious offences, ultimately resulting in the loss of their licences.

While the council did not elaborate on the specific nature of all 16 cases, the information released signals a clear message: Ipswich Borough Council is actively working to maintain standards and protect the public by holding its licensed drivers accountable.

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A Tunbridge Wells taxi driver has exhausted all avenues of appeal after a judge at Maidstone Crown Court upheld the borough council's decision to revoke his taxi/private hire licence.

The ruling, delivered on April 9, 2025, follows an initial revocation in May 2023 due to what the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council described as "serious concerns about public safety."

The driver had previously failed to overturn the council's decision at Medway Magistrates’ Court in 2024. This latest ruling not only affirms the revocation but also awards costs to the council.

Gary Stevenson, Head of Housing, Health & Environment at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, emphasised the council's commitment to passenger safety, stating: "People who use taxis and private hire vehicles licensed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council should feel safe."

He further added: "This was a lengthy case but it was important that the council defended the decision to revoke the licence. We will always put public safety first."

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Hundreds of taxi drivers across Blackburn and Pendle have begun registering to drive for Uber this week, following the ride-sharing giant finally receiving a licence from Blackburn with Darwen Council in November.

The onboarding process commenced on Tuesday at Lomeshaye Business Park in Nelson, marking the end of frustrating delays for prospective drivers who were initially told registration would begin in January, then March.

The move comes after a period where private hire vehicles licensed in other boroughs were commonly seen operating via the Uber app in Blackburn and Pendle.

One Blackburn driver who attended the registration event highlighted the strong initial interest, stating: "There was a lot of demand. I got told around 70 people registered and a further 70 will be online by Thursday."

The driver also noted the decision to launch in both districts simultaneously due to high demand, explaining: "We were told to travel over to Nelson as in the district there was a lot of demand and they decided to launch both licences simultaneously."

The arrival of Uber, the world's largest ride-sharing company with millions of users and drivers globally, is anticipated to significantly impact the local taxi landscape. The registering driver acknowledged this potential shift, saying: "This will most likely affect local firms as people will be joining Uber."

While the increased competition could offer more choice for passengers, the effect on fares remains uncertain. "We are not sure how this will affect prices for customers though. As during peak hours, the prices may be more. But we won’t know until the coming weeks," the driver added.

The council's decision to grant Uber a licence was made despite concerns about the potential impact on existing local taxi firms and their drivers.

To operate on the Uber platform, drivers require a private hire licence from the council that licenses Uber. The coming weeks will reveal the true extent of Uber's influence on the Blackburn and Pendle taxi market.

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