A Middlesbrough-based private hire driver who was caught urinating on Stockton High Street has managed to retain his licence, after it emerged he suffers from a medical condition.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of 7 November 2024, was captured on CCTV. The footage showed the taxi driver relieving himself beside his vehicle at approximately 03:52am. The matter was reported by Stockton’s Trading Standards team to Middlesbrough Council, who handle the driver’s licensing.
The driver was later identified and admitted to the incident during a phone interview on 22 November. He explained that he suffers from type 2 diabetes and takes medication that increases the frequency of needing to use the toilet. He said he was “caught short” and feared he might soil himself if he attempted to find a toilet in time. According to official meeting minutes, the driver claimed he made efforts to ensure no one was watching and was unaware of the CCTV cameras.
The Middlesbrough Council licensing committee heard that the driver had already paid a fine to Stockton Council for the offence before attending the hearing. He had also been licensed since January 2017 without previous issues. His most recent medical report confirmed his condition and supported his account.
Despite the seriousness of the matter, councillors ultimately decided not to revoke his private hire driver’s licence. Instead, the committee issued a formal warning, noting the mitigating circumstances.
The committee emphasised that while the driver’s health condition explained the situation, public urination is a breach of the Code of Conduct and is not acceptable. They considered the warning to be a suitable step to ensure the driver fully understands that such behaviour would not be tolerated again.
This incident serves as a reminder to all taxi and private hire drivers of the importance of maintaining professional standards at all times — even in challenging circumstances.
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