A jailed taxi driver who raped a teenage passenger and threw her out of his car in sub-zero temperatures has been allowed to keep his licence to operate his taxi business. David Brown, 50, of Croy near Inverness, attacked the 18-year-old woman in December 2023 after offering to drive her home from a night out in Inverness.
Details of the Attack
The woman, who wanted to return to her village in the Highlands, was picked up by Brown in his car. Instead of taking her to her requested destination, he drove past it and pulled into a layby, where he carried out the sexual assault. He then abandoned her in freezing conditions. Brown was sentenced to six years and nine months at the High Court in Stirling in May after denying the charges.
Licensing Decision Sparks Controversy
Despite objections from Police Scotland, Highland councillors voted in favour of Brown retaining his taxi business licence during a licensing committee meeting on June 23. The decision, made in private, has been referred to a future full council meeting for review. Councillors who voted to continue Brown's licence may face a no-confidence vote, according to the Inverness Courier, which first reported the committee's decision.
A Highland Council spokeswoman declined to comment on individual licensing cases. A Police Scotland spokesperson stated: "The decision on whether to grant a licence is a matter for the council," confirming that officers attended the meeting and submitted an objection.
Background and Impact
Brown's taxi driver's licence was removed in January 2024, a month after the attack. During the trial, the court heard how Brown exploited the woman's vulnerability, offering to drive her home even though she did not have enough money to pay the fare. Lord Renucci remarked that while she expected a safe journey, Brown inflicted a traumatising sexual assault. The case has drawn widespread criticism and calls for tighter regulation of taxi licensing.
