Rapist taxi driver's wife applies for her own licence after uproar

The wife of a convicted Inverness rapist taxi driver whose licence renewal caused widespread controversy is applying for her own taxi licence.

David Brown was jailed for seven years in May after he attacked an 18-year-old passenger and left her in sub-zero temperatures in Dingwall in December 2023.

But when his taxi operator’s licence – which relates to the vehicle rather than the individual driving it – came up for renewal in June, Highland Council was plunged into a prolonged controversy as six male members of the licensing committee voted that it should not be revoked, despite his conviction.

It is understood it was Brown’s wife who had attended the meeting in June and asked the committee not to revoke the licence, as the pair ran the Inverness-based taxi company Ness Taxis together.

Without an operator’s licence she would not have been able to continue legally running the business.

When the licensing committee decision was made public, the outcry resulted in resignations, investigations and ultimately a vote of no confidence in five of the councillors who had voted not to revoke the licence in Brown’s name.

The sixth councillor, Willie Mackay, had previously resigned from the council.

Ness Taxis is listed as dormant on Companies House and in August, Brown’s wife, Anne-Marie resigned from her post as company secretary.

But the Inverness Courier understands Mrs Brown is now asking Highland Council to grant her a taxi operator’s licence in her own name.

She has put two applications in, one for a full operator’s licence and one for a temporary licence. It is not yet clear why two applications have been made.

The decision will be made behind closed doors under the terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 at the licensing committee meeting on Tuesday.