A private hire driver in Bolsover has lost his licence following a serious complaint of inappropriate conduct towards a female passenger.
The driver, Onyeka Ljeomah, faced a hearing after a passenger reported that he engaged in an “inappropriate sexual conversation” while she was in his vehicle.
Licence Revoked After Safeguarding Breach
Ljeomah, who had only recently been licensed and had completed a Safeguarding Course, appeared before Bolsover District Council’s licensing committee on 16 January 2025.
Panel members reviewed both CCTV and audio footage from inside the car before concluding that Ljeomah’s behaviour was unacceptable. Despite his defence that “nothing was meant by the conversation” and that he was not attempting to initiate anything with the passenger, councillors decided to revoke his licence.
Court Upholds Council’s Decision
Ljeomah appealed the ruling, but on 18 July 2025, Derby Magistrates Court upheld the council’s decision. The court also ordered him to pay £1,065 in costs to Bolsover District Council.
Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders, cabinet member for licensing, welcomed the decision, stating:
“This accusation was very serious and our officers worked hard to understand what happened. It’s good that the evidence supported the accusation and the actions taken by our licensing subcommittee.”
He added:
“We have a duty to keep users of our taxis safe and in taking away this driver’s licence we have taken a step towards safer taxis in the district.”
Passenger Safety Prioritised
The case highlights the ongoing importance of safeguarding within the private hire and taxi industry. Councils across the UK continue to stress that inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated, with swift action taken to protect passengers.
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