A taxi driver who had his licence revoked after having sex with a vulnerable passenger has failed in a bid to get it back.

The driver, who operated in north Cornwall, had his licence revoked in February 2016 by Cornwall Council’s licensing committee.

Councillors revoked the licence after hearing that the man had pestered a vulnerable woman for sex and had a sexual relationship with her for up to two years.

They said that the driver would have known the woman was vulnerable as he was driving her under a contract from the council.

He returned to the committee last month in a bid to get his Hackney carriage/private hire licence back so he could work again.

Cornwall Council’s licensing committee holds the meetings in private due to the personal information provided about applicants and also does not reveal their identities. Details of the meeting have been published in the minutes.

The committee heard that the driver had had his licence revoked with immediate effect in 2016 after the then committee found that he was not a “fit and proper person” to hold a licence.

The minutes state: “Members at that hearing noted that E1D139 (the driver) had pestered a vulnerable female to have sex and had sex with her over a 18-month to two-year period. They concluded that he must have known she was vulnerable as she was being driven under a contract with the council. Members at that time also heard that E1D139 had accepted payments from the female’s sister whilst he was working under that contract, knowing this to be wrong. Members of that committee concluded on that day that this amounted to dishonesty. They also found that E1D139 had contravened a confidence.”

At the recent committee meeting councillors decided that the driver was still not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

They made their decision after hearing submissions from the driver and his legal representative as well as statements from the council’s HR safeguarding team.

The minutes state: “Members were satisfied that E1D139 was not a fit and proper person to hold a hackney carriage/private hire vehicle driver’s licence as they would not be happy for their children, grandchildren, parents or grandparents to be driven by E1D139 as members were not satisfied that he would not exploit vulnerable females as he did in 2015 should he be granted a licence.

“Members particularly noted the council’s policy with regards sexual and indecency offences. This policy stated that licences should be refused if offenders can show a substantive period (at least 10 years) free of such offences. Members noted that he had not been convicted of any sexual or indecency offence but he had admitted inappropriate sexual conduct to a vulnerable female whilst he was in a position of trust.

“Members therefore refused the application which they considered to be a reasonable and proportionate decision.”