A cabbie has lost his appeal to reinstate his licence after being named the district's “most complained about driver”.

Tashil Hashemi lost his permit to operate in January after a review by Ashford Borough Council’s (ABC) licensing subcommittee deemed him unfit to continue.

Just under a year later, Mr Hashemi took the local authority to Margate Magistrates’ Court to appeal against the decision because he disagreed with being considered not “fit and proper” to hold the licence he first acquired in 2011.

He chose to represent himself during the hearing, with assistance from a ‘McKenzie Friend’, a layperson who assists and supports people during a case when a lawyer does not represent them.

ABC representatives told the court that Mr Hashemi had become the authority’s “most complained about driver” due to a history of allegations made against him.

The evidence included using rude and abusive language towards customers, refusing fares, poor driving standards and using a taxi rank as a parking space outside of a shop also occupied by the driver.

The court also heard of another instance where Mr Hashemi attempted to prevent a licensing officer from accessing his Hackney carriage.

He failed to convince the court to overturn the council’s decision to revoke his licence.

Summarising the case on November 22, the judge praised the investigation by ABC’s licensing team's which found they could not be satisfied the driver was fit to hold a taxi driver’s licence.

The court dismissed the appeal, and Mr Hashemi was ordered to pay the council £4,000 costs within 28 days.