Decision to allow rapist taxi driver to keep operator's licence 'sends harmful message'

A Highland charity has said the decision to allow a convicted criminal to keep his taxi operator’s licence, despite raping a teenage passenger, sends a “harmful message” to victims of sexual assault.

David Brown was convicted earlier this year of raping the 18-year-old woman in a lay-by near a farm in the Highlands.

The 50-year-old had picked up the teenager after she had been on a night out in Inverness.

But instead of dropping her home, he subjected the vulnerable teen to what Judge Lord Renucci described as a “terrifying ordeal”.

He then dumped her in freezing temperatures in Dingwall.

In May, Brown was jailed for six years and nine months at the High Court in Stirling.

He had denied the charge of rape, claiming he had a consensual sexual encounter, instigated by the victim.

Highlands & Islands

Taxi driver who raped teenage passenger allowed to keep operator licence

David Brown drove the 18-year-old passenger past her home after a night out and subjected her to a ‘terrifying ordeal’ in a lay-by

Last week, Brown’s two taxi operating licences were brought up for review by Highland Council and despite objections by police, the convicted rapist’s licences was allowed to continue in his name in a closed-door meeting.

The decision was met with outrage from the general public, and Highland Council said the decision has now been temporarily halted and will be reviewed by the full council.

It has since emerged that the Licensing Committee was split over the decision, with the four women on the group voting against the motion, and the six men in favour of Brown retaining the licences.

In the aftermath, councillor Morven-May MacCallum has called for specialist misogyny training, so that all local authority decisions are made with a full understanding of public protection needs and risks

‘Deeply troubling’

Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland (RASASH) has now spoken out on the decision, with CEO Romy Rehfeld branding the move to allow Brown to keep his licences as “deeply troubling”.

She added that the decision could send a harmful message that the local authority does not prioritise the safety of women and girls.

“Reporting a rape and living through a criminal trial takes enormous courage. When the outcome is that the person who caused that harm keeps a licence tied to the very profession he used to commit it, survivors may reasonably ask whether the system genuinely prioritises their safety,” she said.

“It also sends a harmful message to the wider community: that the council does not prioritise the safety of women and girls over other interests, particularly when taxis are something women are actively told to use to keep themselves safe at night.

“A decision like this, made behind closed doors and without clear justification, risks making women feel less safe.”

Ms Rehfeld said that any further decisions on Brown’s licences should be made “transparently”.

While Ms Rehfeld could not say why councillors voted the way they did, she highlighted the need for men to help hold perpetrators of gender-based violence to account.

“We hope the councillors involved in approving this licence will take stock of the concerns raised by us, Police Scotland, survivors, and the wider community,” she added.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, support is available via your local rape crisis centre and the national Rape Crisis Scotland Helpline on 08088 010 302 (open daily 5pm – midnight).