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Rapist taxi driver at centre of licensing row to appeal conviction

News imageAlan Simpson David Brown has close cropped, dark hair. He is wearing glasses, a dark suit and tie and a white shirt. He is on a mobile phone outside a court.Alan Simpson
David Brown was jailed in May

A taxi driver who was found guilty of raping an 18-year-old and then allowed to keep his operator's licence is to appeal his conviction and sentence.

David Brown was sentenced to six years and nine months in jail in May for the attack in December 2023.

He picked up the woman, who had been on a night out in Inverness, and drove past her destination before attacking her in a lay-by.

Last month, Highland Council's licensing committee voted in private to allow his operator's licence to continue in his name despite objections from Police Scotland - a move which caused significant outcry and led to four councillors resigning from the committee.

Two councillors have also been suspended by their parties.

The courts have been informed of Brown's intention to appeal his conviction and sentence.

Although no formal application has yet been received, a deadline of next Tuesday has been set for a note of appeal to be lodged.

On the night of the attack, Brown picked up the woman who had been on a night out in Inverness - she had wanted to go back to her Highland village.

Instead, Brown drove past her destination before pulling into a lay-by near a farm, somewhere between Strathpeffer and Dingwall, and raped her.

He then left her in sub-zero temperatures in Dingwall.

Jailing Brown at the High Court in Stirling in May, judge Lord Renucci told him he had forced the teenager to undergo a terrifying ordeal.

The following month, six male councillors on Highland Council's licensing committee voted in favour of Brown keeping his licence to operate a taxi business. Four female councillors voted against the move.

BBC Scotland News understands a member of his family requested that the licence continue.

Following criticism of the council decision, chairman Sean Kennedy, along with John Grafton, Duncan Macpherson and Willie MacKay, resigned from the committee.

Independent councillor MacKay also resigned as a councillor, while Grafton was suspended by the Scottish Liberal Democrat group on Highland Council.

Kennedy, an Independent councillor, resigned from the Highland Independents group on the local authority.

Chris Birt was later suspended by the council's SNP group.

The sixth councillor, Scottish Conservative Ruraidh Stewart, was approached for comment.