Pendle taxi driver who slapped 8-year-old boy keeps licence (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Pendle taxi driver who slapped 8-year-old boy keeps licence

12:30pm Tuesday 26th June 2012 in Pendle By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

THE family of an eight-year-old boy who was assaulted by a taxi driver will meet Pendle Council officials to ask why he has been given his licence back.

Karamat Ali, 41, of Dalton Street, Nelson, was found guilty of assault by Burnley magistrates at a trial in May after the incident in December.

He was fined £250 and given 80 hours of unpaid community work, but Pendle Council’s taxi licensing committee reinstated his licence to work in the borough on May 28.

Ali was found guilty of slapping eight-year-old Cameron Trickett in the face in Dalton Street.

His dad Andi Trickett said: “Cameron and his brother Andrew were playing in the street when the incident happened, and the ball they were playing with accidentally hit the taxi driver’s car.

“Both Cameron and Andrew had to give video evidence at the court and go through a difficult and traumatic period for our family.

“I don’t understand why, after being found guilty, Pendle Council have lifted his suspension and are allowing him to drive again. It isn’t right.”

Pendle Council suspended Ali indefinitely in January when he was first charged, in line with standard council procedure.

After the trial the council reassessed his case at the meeting on May 28 and lifted his suspension.

Coun Pauline McCormick, chair of the taxi licensing committee, said: “Mr Ali was dealt with through the courts and the taxi licensing committee agreed to lift the suspension of his licence.

"We take very seriously the conduct of taxi drivers in Pendle and are closely monitoring Mr Ali over the next six months. If we find that he commits any further offences, he could lose his licence.”

Coun McCormick said she and the council’s taxi licensing officer would meet the Trickett family to hear their concerns.