A taxi driver who refused to carry a disabled passenger has lost an appeal for his licence to be reinstated.

Majid Hussein Butt, 32, was accused of failing to take a wheelchair user along with another disabled passenger in July last year on a journey from St Albans to Harpenden.

He was prosecuted by the council for failing to comply with an obligation under the Equality Act by discriminating against wheelchair users.

Butt, of Ash Road, Luton, was fined £250, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and a contribution towards the council’s costs of £250 after he pleaded guilty at a hearing in February.

The prosecution is believed to be the first of its kind since the requirement to take wheelchair users at no extra cost came into force in April 2017.

Read more: Taxi driver who refused to take wheelchair-using former mayor loses licence

Following Butt’s conviction, St Albans City and District Council withdrew his hackney carriage driver’s licence.

On Monday (June 10), however, Butt attempted to appeal the decision at St Albans Magistrates’ Court. The decision made by the council to revoke his licence was upheld.

He was ordered to pay £3,000 towards costs.

Tim Scarisbrick, defending, said at the appeal hearing Butt had apologised for what was a one-off offence and was genuinely remorseful.

Read more: Uber driver who was attacked fights for workers' rights

He said at the time of the offence, Butt was suffering from a bad back that limited his ability to give assistance and that his vehicle’s ramp was broken.

However, Butt failed to provide evidence of suffering from a bad back and did not inform the council his ramp was broken.

After the case, Councillor Brian Ellis, chair of the council’s licensing and Regulatory Committee, said: “I’m pleased that this appeal was unsuccessful and the magistrates supported our decision.

Read more: Taxi drivers protest against congestion charge

“Mr Butt was convicted of a serious offence and it was felt that we had no option but to take away his licence under these circumstances.

“Licensed taxi drivers using accessible vehicles are now forbidden by the law from discriminating against wheelchair users and it is our job to enforce that.

“The vast majority of the district’s taxi drivers do an outstanding job and are very helpful to disabled customers. However, this prosecution shows that if we hear of an offence, we will investigate and we will take appropriate action.”