SEX pest cabbie Mohammed Altaf has been ordered off the road after a council inquiry into revelations that his licence had been restored.

But the political controversy and public outcry caused by the affair showed no signs of abating this week.

And the licensing service was rocked when a court heard claims that ANOTHER taxi driver had allegedly indecently assaulted two female passengers.

Our sister paper The Accrington Observer reported last week that Altaf, 32, of Swiss Street, Accrington, had been allowed to ply his trade for four weeks and pick up women who were unaware of his past.

He had been convicted in November of sexually touching a passenger over the age of 16 and his licence was revoked. But in February the council's Licensing Committee granted his appeal to have the licence restored even though the conviction was not spent until 2011.

Council managing director David Welsby stepped in to order a review of the decision and this week it was announced that Altaf's licence had again been suspended.

It was also revealed that Altaf had been employed by Adam's Private Hire of Paxton Street, Accrington.

A spokesman confirmed: "He was employed here but he doesn't work here anymore."

Meanwhile, council leader Peter Britcliffe stepped in to take personal charge of the fall-out from the scandal which has seen our letters pages and website bombarded with protests and is threatening to become a major issue in the local elections in May.

He said: "The decision was not political but nevertheless I am appalled. It is paramount that we have the confidence of the public in ensuring a safe taxi service in the borough."

He has called for the setting-up of a Cabinet Action Group headed by himself to review all licensing systems and procedures.

But Labour leader Councillor Graham Jones blasted the move, calling it a "kangaroo committee".

He said: "These events surrounding taxi licensing come as no surprise to Labour councillors as there have been mutterings and rumblings for years. Councillor Britclife knows there are skeletons in the cupboard."

He added: "A lot of innocent hard-working people drive taxis and the actions of the council have tarnished their image and reputation.

"We need to rebuild confidence and trust, both for the paying passengers and those involved in taxi driving."

l IN the second case, Zaheer Arshad, 28, of Richmond Hill Street, Accrington, has appeared in court accused of molesting two women in the back of his cab - an 18-year-old girl on 4 February and a 43-year-old Oswaldtwistle woman on 11 March

He is alleged to have committed the second offence while on bail for the first.

Prosecutor Philip Potter told Hyndburn magistrates that police had informed the Licensing Committee of the first allegation against him but it took no action because he had not been charged with any offence at that stage.

The council said in a statement that a change in the law introduced this week meant that drivers suspected of offences could now be banned even if they appealed against the decision. This was not the case previously.

Arshad, who was employed by CB Radio Taxis on Church Street, Accrington, did not make a plea to the charges and was remanded in custody to be tried at Preston Crown Court.