A director of one of the largest taxi firms on the Island has lost his legal battle to keep his operator’s licence.

Peder Nielsen of A1 Taxis in Christian Road in Douglas had challenged the Road Transport Licencing Committee’s decision in court.

But Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said the decision to take the licence off him hadn’t been carried out unfairly and was reasonable.

The committee took the decision after two of his taxis were banned from commercial service because of defects.

The court heard prohibitions on both cars had been served by vehicle examiners at the test centre in Tromode last winter.

But Mr Nielsen had initially been unaware the RTLC wanted him to explain the defects because he spent three months off-Island in the Gambia.

The committee took the decision to remove his licence because it said his absence brought his professional competence into question – a move Mr Nielsen challenged in court.

However, Mrs Hughes said the committee had carried out its duties properly and the decision wasn’t an unreasonable one.

She rejected Mr Nielsen’s appeal.