Private hire driver who refused to pick up passenger with assistance dog has licence cancelled by West Northants Council
A private hire driver who refused to pick up a passenger, who was accompanied by an assistance dog, has had his licence cancelled by West Northants Council.
Fairas Musthafa, was fined a total of £1,367 by magistrates after the incident, which took place at Benbow Court in the Shenley Church End area of Milton Keynes.
West Northamptonshire Council confirmed that following a licensing meeting, Mr Musthafa’s licence was revoked.
He has 21 days, from December 11, to appeal the decision to Milton Keynes Magistrates Court.
The case was pursued through the courts after Milton Keynes City Council found Mr Musthafa had driven past the passenger and made no attempt to pick her up.
He was found guilty under two pieces of the Equality Act 2010, with magistrates fining him £405 for the first breach, and ordering him to pay a victim surcharge of £162 and costs of £600.
In relation to the second breach, Mr Musthafa was ordered to pay £200 in compensation to the victim by the court, instead of being issued with a fine.
Under the Equality Act 2010 it is an offence for taxi drivers to refuse passengers with assistance dogs unless they have a valid medical exemption.