Qamar Farooq faced a city council licensing committee following allegations that he refused to use his meter and instead attempted to charge passengers a fixed price.

With women representing less than 7% of all private hire and taxi drivers in the UK1 - and less than 2.5% in London – the industry faces a significant gender imbalance.

Hundreds of Derby private hire drivers are waiting on a high-stakes council decision next week that could determine the future of the local trade.

Founded by 26-year-old Martyna Kalarikkal, "Monroe" currently operates with eight female drivers under licenses from Middlesbrough and Stockton Councils.

Official documents set to be discussed at a licensing meeting on Thursday 5 March, reveal deep concerns that increasing licence fees for a second year in a row could cripple the industry further.

The incident, which took place on February 23 along the popular seafront promenade, left a 65-year-old Irish tourist with serious head and facial injuries.

James Hutton appeared before city councillors on 3 March following a series of complaints, including allegations of "aggressive or threatening behaviour" and failing to display his official badge.

When they reached the destination and he asked for the fare, the thug sitting in the back seat hit the poor driver on his head with a glass bottle and ran off without paying.