To think that this says everything needed about attitudes to women's safety

[tilypu]

https://news.stv.tv/highlands-islands/taxi-driver-who-raped-teenager-then-dumped-her-in-freezing-temperatures-allowed-to-keep-operator-licence

Absolutely shocking that this decision was made. I just hope that the full council see sense.

It should be shocking, but sadly it is not. Like the other cases where boys/men’s futures and careers are prioritised over justice for VAWG. It’s despicable. That poor young woman. That man is clearly not safe to hold any type of license.

First response nailed it. We live in such a shitty world where women and girls are hated and treated as such.

I knew it was going to be this story by your title @tilypu .

Six male councillors voted for him to keep his licence, despite Police Scotland objecting, and four female councillors voted against.

Thankfully "Highland Council said the decision has now been temporarily halted and will be reviewed by the full council". Here's hoping for a more appropriate decision. We will be watching.

I agree, there are. The shocking thing about this one is that he has been given a licence to do the job by a public authority to do the work that gave him the opportunity to rape in the first place.

These, presumably mostly men, are not fit for the job. If any of them represented me I would be making myself heard. I hope that the local population are doing just that.

What the hell are those men thinking?

Do none of these men have daughters or wives ffs?

Someone start a petition and let’s get promoting it.

They don’t think.

Oh I'm sure they do. It's a boy's club isn't it. If it was something that affected their livelihoods, land or property he'd soon lose his license. But it's just a girl.

Exactly this!

But I have to wonder if their opinion would change if it was their daughter/wife/sister that was raped. And if they would be happy for their female relatives to be alone in a taxi with him.

Unfortunately with these types of people, they would likely still blame their female relative if they possibly could.
At the end of the day I think a lot of blokes can’t imagine that sex could be unwanted or agonisingly painful for women, let alone the trauma and violation, so they don’t see the problem with rape beyond damage of some other bloke’s property.
That’s my theory after recently talking to an absolute idiot who didn’t understand why rape is against the law and thought women who complained about it were professional victims out to get what they could and damage men’s reputations. They walk among us.

I don't think it would. They undoubtedly believe she "brought it on herself", which of course their wives/daughters/aunties never would. They also have absolutely zero thoughts on rape, it's just a word that happens to someone else. And that someone else "naturally" isn't part of their circle or (usually) sex class.

Well obviously they dont care as as family member could get into a taxi with him because their Dad, husband, brother voted to give him back his licence, so they clearly couldnt give a shit. I would like to see them questioned about their reasoning for their decision

At this point men shouldn’t be allowed in politics.

Exactly.

If our legislation meant there would be a way for any future victims of this convicted rapist to sue the individual councillors who had knowingly approved his operator licence, they wouldn't have approved it.

If any future crimes would imperil their financial future, they would never have prioritised the rapist's financial future over the risk to public safety.

Those councillors should have been held equally responsible if he'd raped another woman. No accountability.

Have their names been published? People should know who these men are when they're voting next.

If you can follow this link, there is an image showing their names and faces. x.com/i/status/2072279304583451123

What the f*ck is wrong with the council members? This man is a convicted rapist. He has shown he is utterly untrustworthy around women and can never be trusted as a taxi driver again.

They are all men. Do they think it's funny? All boys together? Is their attitude that boys will be boys? Or are they fantasising about taking their turn?

None of them is fit to be a Councillor and every one of them should be removed. Immediately. They blatantly have not done their safeguarding training. Or are they all in receipt of brown envelopes?

I hope their wives and daughters and grand daughters and mothers and sisters hold them in the absolute contempt they deserve.

Truly shameful.

I used to think Germaine Greer was being a bit OTT when she said women just don'tvrealise how much men hate them.

I don't think it is hate, though, as just not thinking of us as human. As in, they think you wouldn't deprive a man of his livelihood for running over a dog, and this inon a par...

They need neither in order to be competent adult human beings.

These men are not it.

All need to be sacked.

To be honest it seems fairly irrelevant at this time.

He's banged up and not going to be driving a taxi for the next 5+ years. Quite likely he won't be physically capable by the time he gets out.

Would be a nice justice if he learned more on the topic while he's in jail.

And when he gets out there will presumably be a review of his license as there would be for anyone with a newly acquired criminal record.

If his license is withdrawn now, before any potential appeal is heard (can happen any time during his sentence), and then he did appeal and was found innocent ... then he might have a claim for compensation and I don't want that.

He's banged up and not going to be driving a taxi for the next 5+ years. Quite likely he won't be physically capable by the time he gets out.

He's only 50 now! Even if he serves every single day of his sentence (unlikely), he's hardly going to be too decrepit to commit physical violence at 55-56.

It's not irrelevant. Keeping his licence open for him sends a really strong message to victims of rape, and especially HIS victim.

We have been told stay safe. Don't walk home at night, get a taxi. Now we are seeing first hand that taxis are not safe even AFTER the perp has been caught and sentenced - which in rape cases is so rare.

His victim is incredible. Standing up to your rapist in court is fucking hard. I don't know that I could do it, and she's a lot younger than me. And this is what she gets told? That its ok for him to continue in the job that gave him the opportunity to rape her? It's ok for him to, via this job, have access to women on their own again?

He can reapply when he gets out. And if there is any justice, he would be refused. But it's not irrelevant. Not by a long way.

I'm really confused at to why you think a 55 year old would be incapable of rape. Maybe take a look at this case: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnv9er181lno

Very few things make me angry. I'm usually more resigned.

But I'm fucking livid.

I bet they are all saying “He is a good bloke.”

It feels like this shouldn’t be subject to a vote. If you commit a crime like this, that’s it end of licence. It should be automatic.

I hate to let the facts get in the way of a good froth but his licence only had 3 years left on it before it expired and tge driver would be in jail for around 7.He would therefore have yo apply for a new one on his release. Refusing a new licence is going to be a lot more straightforward and cheaper process than convening committees of councillors. Pragmatically the result-he never drives or operates a taxi again -is the same!