Stockton driver wins taxi licence despite laundering conviction

Councillors on Stockton Council’s general licensing committee found the unnamed motorist was remorseful for the crime of concealing, disguising, converting or transferring criminal property almost seven years ago.

He told them he had made mistakes but was focused on working hard and providing for his family and “really needed an opportunity to make a better life”, minutes from a committee hearing show.

He applied for a new combined hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence and provided a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) certificate showing his previous conviction.

He has been given a suspended prison sentence with community service for the money laundering offence several years ago.

He said he had been new to the UK and was trying to earn enough money to secure a home for himself and his wife, who was unwell.

He told how he was earning £50 to £60 per day as a delivery driver when he was offered a delivery job with better earnings and given a cash package to deliver, the only time he had done this.

Questioned over substance misuse when he was younger, he said it only happened when he was young, it was not an addiction and he did not now drink or smoke. He told the committee his mistakes were over six years ago.

The committee were satisfied the driver had fully cooperated with Cleveland Police, who believed his account of the offence he had committed. Under the council’s licensing policy, he was “free from conviction” in February this year.

Considering the time which had passed since his crime, they decided he was a “fit and proper person” and granted the licence following the necessary checks.