Four councillors who voted to allow a rapist taxi driver to keep his operator's licence have resigned from a Scottish council's committee — a decision that sparked public outrage and prompted one of them to also step down as a councillor.
David Brown, 50, was jailed for six years and nine months in May after preying on an 18-year-old female passenger in Ross-shire in December 2023. Despite an objection by Police Scotland, six male councillors on Highland Council's licensing committee last month voted to allow his operator's licence to continue. Four female councillors voted against it.
“Four Highland councillors resign after voting to allow jailed rapist taxi driver David Brown to keep his operator's licence.”
The vote provoked a public outcry, leading to the resignations of councillors Sean Kennedy, John Grafton, Duncan Macpherson and Willie MacKay from the committee and board. MacKay also resigned as a councillor, while Grafton has been expelled by the Highland Liberal Democrats group. Sky News contacted each of the men for comment.
Councillor Chris Birt, who was among the six who voted to keep the operator's licence, said he did so because Brown's wife was running the taxi business. "His wife was present, who had been carrying on the taxi business as according to the operator's licence, which had six months to run, after which she could renew it in her own name," Birt explained. He noted that Brown's personal taxi driver's licence was removed, but added: "His wife, as the only other taxi driver operating under the operator's licence, was continuing to earn her keep as a taxi driver."
Birt said he followed guidance from the clerk and considered that Brown is currently in jail. "I stand by that decision, as it was lawful, ensured public safety, and was just," he said. "I know that some of my colleagues on the committee felt similarly — but they can speak for themselves. Others disagreed, which is of course their right." He insisted the criminal case had "nothing whatsoever to do with our vote to protect the criminal's wife from punishment."
Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland (RASASH) and Rape Crisis Scotland condemned the committee's decision. RASASH chief executive Romy Rehfeld said: "The lack of transparency about why this decision was made has led to women and girls feeling less safe — particularly when taxis are something women are actively told to use to keep themselves safe at night."
