A TAXI driver jailed for attacking "vulnerable" female passengers made a court bid to have his licence returned to him.

Anthony 'Tony' Rees was sentenced to four months in prison in January of this year after grabbing a woman by the throat and shoving her to the ground, and dragging another passenger from his taxi.

Despite that, in April he appealed to magistrates to overturn a council decision to revoke his licence. The appeal was dismissed, and Rees, of Cleveland Road in Bournemouth, was ordered to pay the authority £1,927 in costs.

The driver admitted two counts of assault and one of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at Poole Magistrates' Court on January 30.

Magistrates said his victims were "vulnerable" and he was in a "position of trust" at the time of the attacks.

The first incident took place on October 8 2017 in Alma Road when passengers Charlotte Ball and Evie Harrison were verbally abused. The women said Rees was "screaming and swearing and threatening" them.

On October 11, he assaulted Eimear O'Sullivan in St Catherine's Road, Bournemouth after she took a taxi from Bournemouth train station. He grabbed her by the throat and neck and shoved her, causing her to fall and hit her head.

She suffered bruising to her lower back, chest, ankle and arm during the assault.

On October 14, he attacked Josie Hagan in Abbott Road, Bournemouth, dragging her from his taxi. Ms Hagan suffered grazing to her knees and elbows.

Police alerted the council on October 20, and the driver's licence was revoked that day.

A second driver, Bournemouth man Seo Gjonaj, had his licence revoked after swapping phone numbers with a 14-year-old girl and exchanging messages with her.

He also appealed the decision before magistrates. However, the revocation was upheld and he was ordered to pay £1,878 in costs.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, chair of the licensing board, said officials apply a "fair and proper test" before revoking a driver's licence.

"We consider if we'd be happy for a niece or daughter to get into a taxi with that particular individual. If not, that can constitute grounds for the revocation of a licence," he said.

"We think it's a good test, and one the public will be comfortable with. It's a policy we consistently follow."

Nananka Randle, the council's licensing manager, said: "This sends out a strong message to the taxi trade that inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated.

"We take complaints very seriously and we will take action when appropriate. Public safety is our main priority and we would advise passengers not to share personal information such as mobile phone numbers directly with taxi drivers.

"Should anyone wish to make a complaint about a driver they should email licensing@bournemouth.gov.uk"