A TAXI driver who has been convicted of verbally threatening two separate women has lost his licence.

George Spence, from Haldane, was fined £280 in 2015 for behaving in a threatening manner towards his then-partner by shouting and swearing at her.

In October this year, he admitted trying to contact the woman, who is now his ex, via email despite being told not to. The case involved a young child.

In November 2019, Spence also left a threatening voicemail on his current partner’s phone and she contacted police as a result. He is expected to be sentenced for both offences on December 23.

The applicant was brought before West Dunbartonshire Council’s licensing committee to explain himself.

He said: “The email I sent to my ex was not threatening at all and it was all above board. My partner was angry about the situation I was in and we were both sending voice messages to each other as a result.

“We both said things that we shouldn’t have. She had had enough and phoned the police. She then phoned me to apologise for what she had done.

“We love each other but it all got too much. I am a good taxi driver. I have never had a complaint and I have been driving for just over two years.

“This is all really silly and there was never any violence. I do regret what happened with my partner, but everybody argues. It is a normal part of a relationship.”

“We have both been put under a lot of pressure.”

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Members of the committee raised concerns about Mr Spence’s attitude to his criminal offences.

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill said: “Just because there was no violence doesn’t mean your behaviour was not threatening. Many arguments do not result in one person phoning the police but many should involve the police. How can you satisfy us that this was just an argument ‘behind closed doors’?

“Clearly there are some issues which need to be addressed.”

Mr Spence tried to reassure the committee that he would never be in this position again. He said: “This will never happen again. I have had time to think about this and need to get my act together.”

The committee refused his renewal bid on the grounds that Mr Spence was not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.