A TAXI driver who mounted and drove along a pavement as children walked to school has had his private hire licence withdrawn.

Sandwell council’s licensing sub-committee revoked the unnamed man’s permit at their August meeting –  despite him explaining  he was rushing to collect his sick daughter. 

Minutes of the meeting, which was closed to the press and public, reveal councillors were shown a video of his car mounting a pavement to pass vehicles slowing down before a junction.

They stated: “The sub committee noted, moments prior to the driver’s vehicle mounting the pavement, a young person in school uniform had just walked along the footpath on their way to school.”

Following the incident, he was convicted in July this year of driving without due care and attention and his private hire licence was suspended. 

In his defence,  the driver – identified only as Mr A T –  explained to councillors that prior to picking his passenger he had received a call telling him his child had suffered an asthma attack and needed to be collected.

He said he only mounted the pavement and undertaken other vehicles as he was rushing to drop off his fare before attending to his daughter.

He admitted he had made a mistake and apologised.

But in explaining their refusal to lift the suspension and renew his licence the committee said:  “Mr A T had committed a serious road traffic offence whilst carrying a passenger in the early morning when school children were walking to school. 

“Guidelines specified that the starting point for the committee was revocation of the licence and the sub committee could see no reason to depart from the guidelines.”

Mr A T was advised of his right to appeal to a magistrates’ court within 21 days of receiving written notification of the decision.