Private hire driver who sent 'threatening messages to woman' refused licence

A would-be private hire driver who “spat in the face of someone” and sent threatening messages to a woman has been refused a licence.

Police Scotland objected to Izadeen Saleh’s bid to work as a private hire driver in Glasgow due to his convictions.

His legal representative argued the applicant’s offences were “quite historical” and he has “learnt from these incidents”.

However, the city’s licensing committee decided to refuse Mr Saleh’s application.

Councillor Alex Wilson, SNP, said: “He has been found guilty of a number of conduct issues.

“We have got to weigh that up, do we want that type of person driving our vehicles in Glasgow?”

Mr Saleh’s representative asked the committee to “see him now in a different light”.

He said in the six or seven years since the last incident, his client had completed two degrees and was “asking for an opportunity to prove himself fit and proper”.

A statement from the applicant explained his situation and “the fact that he has learnt from these incidents and he’s come away with a better understanding of how to conduct himself”, his representative said.

“He has been quite remorseful.”

But councillor Wilson, who chairs the committee, said: “You say he comes across as very remorseful in his submission, I don’t think so. Yes he apologises, but it doesn’t come across that way at all.”

He added: “The committee has to take all these things into consideration. It is a balancing act. We have to decide if he is a fit and proper person.

“We have someone who spat in the face of someone, who has been involved in a stand-up fight and put a female in fear and alarm, these are all convictions. These aren’t just allegations.”

Wilson was also concerned that Mr Saleh would react to “intimidation” if working as a private hire driver, as he would be faced with drunk people and those “who will push his buttons”.

A representative from Police Scotland told councillors about Mr Saleh’s convictions.

She said he had been ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work after the incident in 2016 when he “caused a named female fear or alarm”.

He had repeatedly phoned her and “repeatedly and excessively text her, some of which were threatening, and sent pictures of himself to her”, the officer said, adding the applicant had also approached the woman in person.

His most recent offence related to an incident in August 2018 where he “engaged in a stand up fight” in Glasgow and “brandished a leather belt he had in his possession as an offensive weapon”, the committee heard.

He was fined a total of £945, the officer added.