A TAXI driver has lost his licence to operate after an investigation into complaints he was aggressive, verbally provocative and abusive towards other drivers.

Hambleton District Council’s licensing appeals panel decided the only action they could take was to revoke the man’s hackney carriage and private hire licence after the incident at the taxi rank in Thirsk Market Place in December last year.

It followed previous complaints in March 2016 when the man’s licence to operate was suspended for three weeks and he was given a formal warning. The taxi driver was not identified, nor were five witnesses who gave evidence to the hearing which was held behind closed doors and the press and public excluded.

A report on the hearing identified the driver as D and the panel said it was satisfied he had acted in an aggressive manner towards two taxi drivers, that he was verbally provocative and abusive with one taxi driver and that he made unwanted physical contact with one taxi driver.

It also found he had provided an inaccurate account of the incident to the licensing team in order to give the impression that his conduct appeared less aggressive and that he had acted in self defence.

“The panel considered the character references provided by D and the oral backing provided by W during the hearing,” said the report.

“The panel accepted that D will have customers and friends that have had positive experiences with him.

“However, having considered the outcome of the hearing before the panel in March 2016, the panel was satisfied that D had demonstrated a propensity to lose his temper.”

The report added: “The panel noted that taxi drivers must behave in a civil and orderly manner at all times in order to protect the public and themselves.”

The hearing also heard allegations that the driver had threatened another driver’s relatives in Turkish, however that was not substantiated after other witnesses failed to understand the words.

The driver told the panel he himself had been assaulted after the other driver’s phone was damaged - that alleged assault is understood to be the subject of a separate investigation.