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Original poster

Four councillors quit after vote for rapist taxi driver to keep operator licence (Scotland)

63 replies

IwantToRetire · 08/07/2026 19:23

Four councillors who voted to allow a rapist taxi driver to keep his operator's licence have quit Highland Council's licensing committee.

David Brown, 50, was jailed for six years and nine months in May after attacking an 18-year-old female passenger in December 2023.
Last month, following a request from Brown's family, the committee's six male councillors voted to allow his operator's licence to continue, while its four female councillors voted against it.

Article continues at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjrggzx14r5o

The SNP group on Highland Council has suspended one of its councillors after he voted to allow a rapist taxi driver to keep his operator's licence.

Chris Birt was one of six male councillors who voted to take no action on David Brown's licence after the 50-year-old was jailed for an attack on an 18-year-old female passenger.

Raymond Bremner, SNP group leader at Highland Council, confirmed Birt was suspended on Tuesday.

Bremner had earlier suggested Birt should resign from Highland licensing committee after four other councillors quit.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2wkw765kwo

I dont know is things are worse in Scotland, or that somehow more reporting is done.

Just shocking.

And a big thank you to the 4 unnamed women councillors who voted against the rapist keeping his licence.

What better example of how men in power protect other men, even if they are a convicted rapist. But then look at football.

The four male councilors show in a composite image

Four councillors quit after vote for rapist taxi driver to keep operator licence

The four have resigned from Highland licensing committee after voting to allow David Brown to keep an operator's licence.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjrggzx14r5o

OP posts:
bunnypenny · 08/07/2026 19:54

The names of the female councillors who voted against it are right there in the article OP, along with their photos.

likelysuspect · 08/07/2026 19:50

IwantToRetire · 08/07/2026 19:47

Since when did a convicted criminal not have to serve their sentence because of their work, financial considerations.

What a complete load of bollocks.

This would create a whole new class of rapists. Men who do "essential" work will never ever have to do time in prison.

Sounds like one of Trump's more nutty (male centred) world view.

Show quote history

Your reply to that post doesnt make any sense. He continues to serve his sentence. This isnt about whether he serves his sentence.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 08/07/2026 19:50

Emilesgran · 08/07/2026 19:45

Are we sure he hadn't employed any other rapist drivers? Taxis were one of the ways the rape gangs worked in English towns weren't they? And did his wife, who worked with him, really have no idea?
So I would want there to be proper checks of ALL the other employees, and not just grant a licence regardless.

Show quote history

Exactly.

And in fact one of the reasons having all female taxi firms would be a far better solution.

Someone once drew up a list of areas of work that made it easier for the prominently male work force to operate as a gang. (Also true of drugs.0

OP posts:
Emilesgran · 08/07/2026 19:50

IwantToRetire · 08/07/2026 19:47

Since when did a convicted criminal not have to serve their sentence because of their work, financial considerations.

What a complete load of bollocks.

This would create a whole new class of rapists. Men who do "essential" work will never ever have to do time in prison.

Sounds like one of Trump's more nutty (male centred) world view.

Show quote history

I think the poster meant other drivers working for the firm should be allowed to continue, as well as the rapist's wife.
As I said just now though, I think that's a firm where all the employees would need to be carefully looked at before assuming they were all grand and it was the firm's owner who was dodgy. I woudln't be surprised if he employed dodgy mates too.

RudolphTheReindeer · 08/07/2026 19:48

'Brown's taxi driver's licence - which allows him to drive - had been suspended in January 2024 after details of his offences emerged.
His separate operator's licence allows his vehicle to be used as a taxi business.'

he was/is in prison so I think the headline is a bit sensational imo.

likelysuspect · 08/07/2026 19:48

BettyBooper · 08/07/2026 19:32

Weren't they voting against because it would put lots of jobs at risk by having to halt the licence to the firm whilst they sorted out a new operator? Risk minimal because the guy was in prison?

Yes, the guy should utterly suffer, but other people being penalised and losing their jobs seems crazy.

Sorry if I've got this wrong.

Thats right there have been several threads about this. This is an operators licence and a family member (who I assume jointly owns the company or runs it or something) appealed for the operator licence to remain in place. Presumably other people would lose their livelihoods if it was removed. I dont know the rules as to how they work, if he lost his operator licence perhaps that would render the company redundant or have to close it down while another company is formed and reopened? Not sure.

This is not the story that people think it is, and it needs to keep being corrected on threads like this.

fashionqueen0123 · 08/07/2026 19:47

sohard · 08/07/2026 19:42

This is what my understanding is. It allows the wife to get an operator’s licence of her own. Otherwise the taxi firm would have to stop trading until a new licence was approved.

Show quote history

Why does his wife have anything to do with it!? Sorry so is she a driver under his firm?

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 08/07/2026 19:47

BettyBooper · 08/07/2026 19:32

Weren't they voting against because it would put lots of jobs at risk by having to halt the licence to the firm whilst they sorted out a new operator? Risk minimal because the guy was in prison?

Yes, the guy should utterly suffer, but other people being penalised and losing their jobs seems crazy.

Sorry if I've got this wrong.

Since when did a convicted criminal not have to serve their sentence because of their work, financial considerations.

What a complete load of bollocks.

This would create a whole new class of rapists. Men who do "essential" work will never ever have to do time in prison.

Sounds like one of Trump's more nutty (male centred) world view.

OP posts:
Emilesgran · 08/07/2026 19:45

BettyBooper · 08/07/2026 19:32

Weren't they voting against because it would put lots of jobs at risk by having to halt the licence to the firm whilst they sorted out a new operator? Risk minimal because the guy was in prison?

Yes, the guy should utterly suffer, but other people being penalised and losing their jobs seems crazy.

Sorry if I've got this wrong.

Are we sure he hadn't employed any other rapist drivers? Taxis were one of the ways the rape gangs worked in English towns weren't they? And did his wife, who worked with him, really have no idea?
So I would want there to be proper checks of ALL the other employees, and not just grant a licence regardless.

sohard · 08/07/2026 19:42

BettyBooper · 08/07/2026 19:32

Weren't they voting against because it would put lots of jobs at risk by having to halt the licence to the firm whilst they sorted out a new operator? Risk minimal because the guy was in prison?

Yes, the guy should utterly suffer, but other people being penalised and losing their jobs seems crazy.

Sorry if I've got this wrong.

This is what my understanding is. It allows the wife to get an operator’s licence of her own. Otherwise the taxi firm would have to stop trading until a new licence was approved.

HoppityBun · 08/07/2026 19:35

LizzieSiddal · 08/07/2026 19:30

I don’t understand, is the rapist not in prison? Why would they need to even contemplate this? Were they making sure he still had his licence for when he’d served his sentence?

Thank god they've resigned, disgusting people.

From what I read, the licence was for 6 months only, so there was a suggestion that this would assist his wife. He would still be in prison.

BettyBooper · 08/07/2026 19:32

Weren't they voting against because it would put lots of jobs at risk by having to halt the licence to the firm whilst they sorted out a new operator? Risk minimal because the guy was in prison?

Yes, the guy should utterly suffer, but other people being penalised and losing their jobs seems crazy.

Sorry if I've got this wrong.

LizzieSiddal · 08/07/2026 19:30

I don’t understand, is the rapist not in prison? Why would they need to even contemplate this? Were they making sure he still had his licence for when he’d served his sentence?

Thank god they've resigned, disgusting people.

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