An Ashford cabbie has failed to get his licence back after a court heard how he had "frightened the living daylights" out of three passengers by driving “like a madman”.

Rofiqul Khan, 32, was told he could not operate as a taxi driver after the women complained about his behaviour.

Natalia Ogier had been out at the Hustle Night Club in Ashford with two friends when they hailed Khan's seven-seater cab at 3am last June.

Ms Ogier told Canterbury Crown Court that he agreed to take them to their homes in Herne Bay for £45 – but later stopped and demanded another £60.

It was revealed that this was the seventh complaint – involving 15 people – made against the Kennington cabbie in five years.

Khan had his licences to operate as a proprieter and to drive a cab revoked by Ashford Borough Council.

Khan, of Hurst Road, Kennington, appealed against the rulings by the council and magistrates and asked for his licences to be reinstated.

But a judge sitting with two magistrates threw out the appeal – and handed him a £1,000 bill for costs – on top of the £720 bill for earlier appeals.

Philip Williams, for the council, said Khan had “frightened the living daylights” out of the women by driving too fast.

Another passenger, Lucy Lincoln, later revealed “His driving was frightening me. He was driving like a madman and swearing. It was scary.”

The driver then stopped his taxi near Broad Oak “in the dark” and turned off his car ignition and lights during the wrangle over money.

“That was shocking behaviour. If there is one person who should not be allowed to drive its Mr Khan.”

The council’s licensing manager Jack Godley told how he asked Khan to meet him to discuss Ms Ogier’s complaint.

But the court heard that Khan’s seven-seater taxi didn’t have the Sat Nav present in which he claimed he had calculated the route as 17.5 miles – when it was 20.4 miles.

"His driving was frightening me. He was driving like a madman and swearing. It was scary" - passenger Lucy Lincoln

And instead, the official discovered a wallet, which had been lost in June, but had not been handed into police by Khan.

The driver claimed it had only been found by a friend the night before and he was planning to take it to a police station.

Mr Godley said Khan’s licences had been revoked for demanding more than the agreed fee and contravening by-laws by failing to hand in the wallet.

But he revealed the taxi driver had been the subject of six other complaints, including allegations that he was rude, intimidating, had been racing with another taxi driver, driving away leaving a passenger stranded and attempting to kiss a passenger in his car.

Khan denied all the allegations, which had not resulted in any disciplinary action – although the complaints were recorded on his file.

Mr Godfrey accused Khan of lying about his claim that he feared the women, who had all been drinking, were “trying to get one over him.”

Khan, who also runs the Indian Diner Restaurant, revealed he had also lost a contract to take children to school.