A taxi driver who left a mum "absolutely terrified" has had his licence removed.
Laura Hegart, 50, had been out for dinner and a couple of drinks with her daughter, 26, when she ordered the Renfrewshire Cabs taxi to take them home from Whisky Joe's Bar in Paisley, Scotland, at around 9pm on January 27.
However, as the private hire taxi appeared, she noticed two men within the vehicle - with the driver having turned up with a mystery man in the front seat.
Confrontation with the driver and passenger
Initially thinking it may be for someone else, she phoned the driver who got out of the car to tell her that it was hers. After approaching the vehicle, she confronted the pair and was informed by the passenger that he was 'training' the driver.
Laura told Glasgow Live: "I approached the car and opened the rear door and explained that there is never two males in any Renfrewshire cab. I was then told by the passenger 'I am trainer' to which I said absolutely not. I then informed them I would be calling the office."
"I called Paisley Cabs to inform them that two males were trying to pick up people, which is illegal and highly worrying. I was told by the office that this driver would be signed off immediately and this is not something that is allowed to happen. While I was on the phone, the two men started shouting at each other and tried to shut the door to leave."
Licence removed after council complaint
Following the incident, Laura contacted Renfrewshire Cabs who said the driver was no longer employed by the company. In a statement, the firm said "Passenger safety is our absolute priority" and that the individual "was a newly registered driver" who joined just before the incident.
Laura, who took her complaints to Renfrewshire Council, says the driver had his licence removed earlier this month. She said she was 'happy' with the result but was still 'furious' over the incident, which scared her and her daughter.
"I'm very surprised that the council took his licence off of him. It's been a long process to get here. I don't understand why eight months to get here," she explained.
"But I'm not going to have anyone frighten my child. I am so sick and fed up of seeing women being unsafe taking these sort of taxis."
"There was absolutely no reason for another man to have been there. My daughter hasn't got a taxi since the incident unless me or her father is with her. It was traumatising. She thought we were going to get attacked."
"There needs to be more checks on the people being issued these licences."
