Private hire driver stripped of licence over violent attacks

A private hire driver who was jailed for assaulting a woman and children over eight years has been stripped of his licence.

Iftikhar Sharif was locked up for 340 days in January following a string of violent offences.

Glasgow licensing chiefs have now banned him from driving private hires after a complaint from Police Scotland.

An officer told the council’s licensing committee how the private hire driver, from Paisley, Renfreshire, had repeatedly kicked and punched his victims.

Sharif was convicted of six charges at Paisley Sheriff Court.

His licence had been granted in March 2020 for three years.

It was initially suspended in March this year and has now been suspended for the unexpired portion of its duration by the committee.

The incidents took place between October 2010 and February 2019, the police officer said.

He asked for the licence to be suspended as the police have “serious concerns for public safety”.

Bailie John Kane, who was chairing the licensing committee, said: “This has been a rather shocking series of events covering a fairly substantial period of time, involving a fair amount of violence, particularly towards females.”

Bailie Malcolm Balfour described the incidents as “quite horrendous”.

“To me, it’s an open and shut case,” he said.

“Anyone who is violent at any level, particularly to women in this day and age, it just beggars belief.”

Sharif had assaulted a young girl by “repeatedly punching and kicking her on the body”, the committee heard.

He had also punched and kicked a woman and was found guilty of shouting, swearing, and throwing plates and food around.

Licensing chiefs also heard Sharif had repeatedly struck a boy on “the body with his open palm”.

As a result of the convictions, Sharif has a non-harassment order for six years to refrain him from approaching or contacting four people in any way.

He has also been banned from entering an address in Paisley and one in Glasgow.

By local democracy reporter Drew Sandelands