A TAXI driver who verbally abused a customer has been stripped of his licence.

Councillors decided Frederick Millward was no longer fit to hold the permit after a string of complaints – and a criminal conviction – for abusive behaviour.

Sam Adeniji, chairman of Lewes District Council’s licensing committee, said the 75-year-old was not a “fit and proper person to hold a licence”.

He said: “Inappropriate behaviour and language will not be tolerated by Lewes District Council. We have a duty to maintain public safety with licensed drivers and this behaviour exhibited by Mr Millward is not acceptable.”

Since 2014 the council has received several complaints from traders and customers about Millward’s behaviour.

Officers gave him a verbal warning when five complaints were made that year and then handed him a written warning in 2015 after six more complaints.

There were allegations he was aggressive, spoke inappropriately, made racist remarks, was intimidating other taxi drivers, drove unprofessionally, overcharged customers and queue jumped at taxi ranks.

He was taken to court after verbally abusing Anna Scott in May 2016.

Millward, of Croft Lane, Seaford, denied the incident but he was found guilty by magistrates in January, fined £165, and ordered to pay £30 to fund victim services plus court costs of £200.

He failed to tell the council about his conviction, breaching requirements for holding a licence. The council said it was not going to report him to police over the other complaints because officers felt his behaviour was not of a “significant nature”.

A spokesman said: “These were not criminal offences, just inappropriate behaviour. The council will not be taking any further action against Mr Millward.”

He said the authority believed stripping him of his licence was the “proportionate sanction under the circumstances”.

In May, committee councillors decided to review Millward’s licence and discuss his behaviour in secret, even though his criminal conviction was already a matter of public record.

Members of the press were banned from the discussions under local government laws because “sensitive information” about his criminal history was due to be discussed, a council spokesman said.

Millward initially appealed the licensing decision and a hearing was scheduled to take place at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.

The appeal was dismissed.

The news comes as a group of taxi drivers take Brighton and Hove City Council to court after they were refused licences.

The 19 men are challenging decisions made council officers. Their civil case will resume in December.