A PRIVATE hire driver has been banned from the roads after putting a female passenger into a state of alarm with offers of free fares in exchange for sex.

Robert McAughey asked the lone passenger a series of explicit questions when ferrying her from a Glasgow nightclub to her home in South Lanarkshire last May.

At the end of the journey the private hire driver said he would waive the fare if the girl performed a sex act on him.

The 57-year-old was banned by licensing chiefs on Glasgow City Council after a formal objection by the police and is unlikely to be awarded another driver’s permit in future or by any other Scots local authority.

It emerged during Thursday’s meeting that McAughey had been found guilty under the Sexual Offences Act 2009 at Hamilton Sheriff Court last November and placed on the sex offenders register for five years.

Awaiting sentencing, the council’s licensing committee was told McAughey, from Glasgow and a driver with Network Private Hire, is appealing the conviction. However, the committee refused to believe his claim the sexual comments were two-way and that passenger was going along with the comments.

At the meeting Police Scotland said McAughey had picked up three females outside the Garage Nightclub in Sauchiehall Street in the early hours of May 13 last year.

A statement on behalf of chief constable Phil Gormley added: “Having dropped off two of the females at previous addresses, one of the females was then alone with Mr McAughey for the remainder of the journey.”

He both parties engaged in general conversation until Mr McAughey questions of an intimate nature.

The female did not respond however Mr McAughey continued in this manner and then stated she would not have to pay a fare of she (performed a sex act on him)’.

The female paid the fare in full and thereafter reported the matter to the police.

The committee then heard he attended Hamilton Police Office several days later, where he was detained an “made certain admissions” before being cautioned and charged.

A spokesman said: “The conduct of this driver was completely unacceptable. The committee was in no doubt that his private hire driver’s licence had to be removed in the interests of protecting public safety.”