Private hire driver who tried to lure underage girls into vehicle refused licence by Glasgow City Council

A Glasgow private hire driver who tried to lure two young girls into his vehicle by offering them money in Paisley has been refused a licence.

Faruk Bozdag stared at the girls and followed them, as well as trying to give them cash in a bid to entice them to his car in the vicinity of Paisley shopping centre in August 2022.

The young girls managed to seek help by phoning 999 and the police turned up.

Bozdag, who was sentenced to a community payback order for that offence at court, also committed a number of other crimes including reversing his car into a woman who he blamed for being drunk and on her phone.

Councillors have now refused his private hire car driver licence application after hearing about his record from a police sergeant and an objection from the chief constable at the licensing and regulatory committee.

Committee chair councillor Alex Wilson said: “You caused two juvenile females to be in fear and alarm. You caused them to go into a shop and raise an alarm against you for your behaviour.”

Seemingly downplaying the incident, Bozdag pointed out the Sheriff did not send him to jail for the crime.

Councillor Wilson told Bozdag that on top of his “unusual behaviour,” his “driving skills seem to be off” as he “struck a passenger.”

The committee heard how he reversed into a passenger in 2019 who had got out of his vehicle, leaving her with injuries including whiplash. He was fined and received three penalty points at court.

Addressing Bozdag, councillor Wilson said: “You struck the passenger on the legs and blamed her for being drunk and on the phone.”

He asked why Bozdag did not look in the mirror.

Councillor Wilson also quizzed Bozdag about colliding into the back of a vehicle in September 2022 – causing the other motor to then hit the rear of another.

Councillor Wilson said: “You collided into the back of a vehicle. Not only can you not see behind you, you also can’t see in front of you.”

He added: “Would I get into a private hire car with you? Absolutely not.”

Bozdag was also convicted of assaulting a woman, which involved grabbing her and striking her on the back. He was sentenced to a CPO.

Bozdag claimed that it was a “personal thing” while councillor Wilson challenged him, saying: “You don’t raise your hand to anyone regardless of whether you disagree or not.”

Councillor Sean Ferguson said there is a “problematic” pattern of behaviour.

He accused Bozdag of not accepting responsibility, adding: “It is always someone else’s fault.”