Liverpool Magistrates Court and Liverpool Crown Court determined that the Appellant and Appellant company were not fit and proper persons to hold their respective taxi licences.
In a judgment that will interest licensing practitioners HHJ Wright, sitting at Liverpool Crown Court, determined that the Operator Licence had ceased to exist when the Appellant company was dissolved prior to the Crown Court hearing. However, the bench considered that had the company been reinstated prior to the Crown Court hearing, it would have been necessary to hear further argument regarding whether the licence could be ‘resurrected’.
The Council’s decision to revoke the licence was founded on several matters of fact (disputed by the Appellant), including some 10 complaints by customers who had not been collected or not been picked up from the airport despite pre-booking. Over the course of a two day hearing at Liverpool Crown Court Wirral Council Licensing Officers gave detailed evidence regarding the investigation into the Appellant and his company.
The case has been of some interest in the local press, and was reported in the Liverpool Echo.
Freddie acted for Wirral Borough Council in their successful hearing at the Magistrates Court.
Constanze represented Wirral Borough Council in their successful hearing at Liverpool Crown Court.
Freddie & Constanze were instructed by Ken Abraham, Senior Solicitor of Wirral Borough Council.
