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Highland licensing panel lets convicted rapist keep taxi licences

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 8:10 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Highland Council licensing committee let convicted rapist David Brown retain his taxi licences.
All four female councillors voted to revoke the licences while six male councillors voted against.
Female members said the men displayed unconscious bias and ignored the fit-and-proper-person test.
Most male members later resigned, defended their votes and denied being misogynistic.
BBC Scotland analysis found similar gender-split voting in disputed licensing cases since the committee’s 2022 formation.

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Story summary

Highland Council licensing committee let convicted rapist David Brown retain his taxi licences.
All four female councillors voted to revoke the licences while six male councillors voted against.
Female members said the men displayed unconscious bias and ignored the fit-and-proper-person test.
Most male members later resigned, defended their votes and denied being misogynistic.
BBC Scotland analysis found similar gender-split voting in disputed licensing cases since the committee’s 2022 formation.