A WREXHAM cabbie has been vindicated by the High Court after the borough council tried and failed to strip him of his licence.
Nick Jones, of Coedpoeth, said it had been an 18-month nightmare.
Council chiefs refused to accept a previous decision by Chester Crown Court, which ruled the 30-year-old should keep his taxi badge.
They took the case to the High Court but their legal challenge failed.
The cabbie claims he was the victim of a council-orchestrated persecution campaign.
He claimed council bosses dredged up old offences to rob him of his licence, including one thrown out of court years ago.
It cost Mr Jones £1,500 in legal fees and two months off work ill with stress.
Council bosses also warned that if the High Court found in their favour, they would have demanded nearly £4,500 off Mr Jones in court costs.
On Monday the council refused to dis-close how much its failed action had cost tax payers.
And council bosses have not ruled out an appeal.
Mr Jones said: 'I feel the way they have behaved is disgusting and I feel persecuted by the council. The time I have had off through stress is unbelievable.'
The council granted Mr Jones a taxi licence two-and-a-half years ago. But the trouble started just after he renewed his licence the following year.
Mr Jones said: 'I had disclosed everything I had to disclose on the form to apply for my licence. I hid nothing and the council gave me my licence.
'But 12 months later they tried to takemy licence away for aggravated burglary and affray even though the case had been thrown out of court.'
The case went to Wrexham Magistrates who took away the Apollo Taxi driver's licence. But Chester Crown Court upheld an appeal and gave it him back.
'When they realised they could not take away my licence that way, they tried to bring up a drink-drive offence which happened seven years ago to try and take away my licence,' said Mr Jones
'I just did not understand because I had already disclosed this to them and they had granted me my licence. There are people still driving with far worse things on their record.'
Wrexham council challenged the Crown Court's decision in the High Court but their bid failed last Friday.
'If the council had succeeded I don'tknow what I would have done,' said Mr Jones. 'It would have taken away my livelihood.'
Apollo Taxi manager and Wrexham Private Hire Forum member Debbie Belton said Mr Jones was a model driver.
She said: 'He currently takes a disabled child to school. He does the school runs and airport runs.
'I have been doing this job 19 years and have never heard of anything like this. It is a disgrace.'
Wrexham's chief protection officer, Andy Lewis, said: 'We have 14 days to request leave to appeal and we are considering our position.'
