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Registered
Shafiq Ahmed Aziz
Cabbie who attacked woman had GBH convictions
A MAN given a minicab licence despite previous convictions for GBH and a string of drug offences went on to attack a female passenger.
Shafiq Ahmed Aziz was flagged down by the student victim and three of her friends after a night out in Leeds city centre.
But an argument broke out over the fare and Aziz, who stopped his cab in Burley Road, Burley, got out and slapped the young woman in the face as she stood by the car.
Married Aziz denied he was the driver but was found guilty of common assault and ordered to pay Ô�Å¡£100 compensation to the victim, a Ô�Å¡£100 fine and pay Ô�Å¡£450 costs.
Details of the assault last March, were revealed at Leeds Magistrates' Court yesterday when Aziz, of Brudnell Avenue, Hyde Park, Leeds, tried to get his licence back.
Leeds City Council's licensing department suspended it when police informed them of the 32-year-old's criminal conviction last October.
Andrew Vickers, for the council, said Aziz had previous convictions, including three for possession of drugs and one for grievous bodily harm, when he first applied for a licence.
Mr Vickers asked whether Aziz, who had been plying for hire for just eleven months when he hit the student, would get into a cab being driven by a driver with a conviction for assault.
Aziz replied: "As long as he didn't assault me."
John Raj, for Aziz, said he suffered from sciatica and as a result could only work as a minicab driver to support his wife and family.
A good character reference written by Councillor Khabeer Hussain (Independent, Hyde Park & Woodhouse) was also handed to the bench.
Chairman of the Magistrates' Bench Linda Shaffner said: "We have to decide whether Mr Aziz is a fit and proper person to transport members of the public.
"Given that he has been convicted of physically assaulting a female passenger and failing to disclose this to the council we cannot be satisfied that he is."
Aziz was also ordered to pay the
council Ô�Å¡£200.
He was not prosecuted for illegally picking up the four students.
A Leeds City Council spokesman said: "All applicants for a taxi or private hire license are Criminal Records Bureau checked and each case is dealt with on its own merits on the outcome of that check.
"Convictions for certain offences which date back a number of years should not prevent somebody from applying to be a taxi or private hire driver. We have robust processes in place and where possible will work with applicants to ensure they are fit to hold a licence.
"Mr Aziz demonstrated his suitability to become a professional driver and was subsequently awarded a licence. As soon as we were alerted to an allegation of assault by the police that licence was suspended – a decision which was upheld by the courts today."
When contacted by the YEP Coun Hussain denied he knew about Aziz's criminal record.
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http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Cabbie-who-attacked-woman-had.3857879.jp