A PRIVATE hire driver locked a student in his car before abandoning her at a petrol station after a row over a soiling charge.

The driver, who operates in East Renfrewshire, demanded cash from the girl after claiming one of her group vomited in his vehicle.

When the girl, who disputed the claim, didn’t have £40 to hand, he locked his doors and took her to a nearby petrol station.

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She sought safety in the shop until the driver left, leaving her to walk home alone.

The incident was revealed in a report to councillors yesterday as the girl’s parents called for private hire rules on soiling charges to change.

Licensing chiefs were set to rule on any law changes or possible action against the driver but yesterday’s meeting was adjourned after late witness submissions were received.

The girl’s mother said: “This is an extremely important situation. What happened to our daughter is a very serious matter for all females in East Renfrewshire.

“This took place in August. Six months down the road, there may be vulnerable females in East Renfrewshire.”

The incident occurred as a group of female students were returning to Newton Mearns after a night out in Glasgow.

A report says the driver reacted in an “unpleasant manner” after a passenger was allegedly sick.
When only one passenger was remaining, he demanded the soiling charge.

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Gerry Mahon, the council’s chief officer for legal and procurement, who penned the report, said: “According to the parents of the passenger, their daughter was placed in a state of fear and alarm by the actions of this driver.

“The driver took the passenger to a nearby petrol station to demand she obtained money from the ATM. The passenger sought safety in the petrol station shop and the driver eventually drove off without payment but leaving the young female passenger to walk home.”

The girl’s parents dispute parts of the report submitted to councillors and plan to send their version of events to the council ahead of the next licensing meeting.

Council officers viewed CCTV footage from the petrol station to corroborate the incident, while the driver admitted it in interview.

However, he insisted the soiling did occur.

“No further bookings were taken on that particular night which may corroborate that,” the report states.

The driver has been warned about his actions but councillors could call him to a meeting to rule whether he is a fit and proper person to drive a private hire car.

The new policy would prevent drivers asking for a soiling charge unless it’s agreed prior to the journey.

If soiling occurs, payment can be requested but drivers would have to allow passengers to make a payment at a later date.

Drivers would be unable to prevent passengers leaving the vehicle or driving them to an ATM, unless the passenger agreed.