A TAXI driver who was caught scrolling through Facebook at the wheel has had his licence revoked.

Stockton Council’s licensing committee deemed the former Boro Taxis driver was not a “fit and proper person” to drive a cab after 40-second footage showed him scrolling on his mobile while carrying a passenger in July.

Care worker Ashleigh McNamara said she was terrified when she clocked the driver on the app after being picked up from The Swatters Carr Pub, on Linthorpe Road.

Her video has been viewed more than 45,000 times online.

The committee meeting was held behind closed doors in August but minutes for the panel revealed the driver was remorseful and explained it would never happen again if he was allowed to keep his licence.

However, councillors found the driver was “not paying adequate attention” – citing the fact he hadn’t noticed his rear passenger was recording his actions.

The committee also found the driver “had not been wholly truthful” when interviewed by a council licensing officer and found his explanation that he was “expecting a message from his wife” to be false.

On the back of the evidence, members agreed to revoke his licence.

At the time, Boro Taxis said the council had taken the driver off the road.

A spokeswoman for the company said: “We are pleased that Stockton Council has acted swiftly to put this self-employed driver off the road because it is wholly unacceptable for drivers to be using social media apps whilst driving.”

Using a hand-held phone while driving is against the law and can land motorists with six penalty points and a £200 fine.

After the meeting, Ms McNamara welcomed the decision and hoped it would be a warning to others who thought about using their phone behind the wheel.

The 27-year-old said “If it stops others, whether they are driving taxis or just normal drivers, it can only be a good thing.

“It’s just not worth it,” she added.