Key facts
- Four councillors resigned from Highland Council's licensing committee after voting to allow a convicted rapist to keep his taxi operator's licence.
- The convicted rapist, David Brown, was jailed for six years and nine months for attacking a passenger.
- The committee's decision to allow Brown to keep his operator's licence was met with criticism from women's safety groups.
- Police Scotland had objected to the continuation of Brown's licence.
- The four councillors who resigned are Sean Kennedy, John Grafton, Duncan Macpherson, and Willie MacKay.
Four councillors have resigned from Highland Council's licensing committee following a controversial vote to allow a convicted rapist to retain his taxi operator's licence. The decision, made by the committee's six male councillors against the vote of its four female councillors, has drawn widespread condemnation.
David Brown, 50, was sentenced in May to six years and nine months in prison for the sexual assault of an 18-year-old female passenger in December 2023. Despite the conviction and objections from Police Scotland, the committee voted to allow his operator's licence to continue. His personal taxi driver's licence had already been suspended.
Following public outcry, committee chairman Sean Kennedy, along with councillors John Grafton, Duncan Macpherson, and Willie MacKay, have stepped down from the committee. Independent councillor MacKay has also resigned from Highland Council entirely, while Grafton has been suspended by his party group.
Councillors Macpherson and Grafton stated they voted based on information presented, with assurances that Brown would not drive again and that the vehicle licence would expire before his release. Macpherson expressed distress that his decision may have compromised women's safety, leading to his resignation. Grafton cited compassion and a belief that the committee's role was not to punish, but to manage licences.
Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland and Rape Crisis Scotland described the committee's decision as sending a "harmful message" on women's safety. Highland Council has indicated that the matter will be referred to a future full council meeting for further consideration.