Edinburgh private hire driver who sexually assaulted woman has licence suspended

Edinburgh Council has suspended the private hire licence of Usama Yaseen, 27, following his conviction for sexually assaulting a woman he was delivering takeaway food to in Fife on 9 March 2024.

Yaseen was placed on the sex offenders registry after Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court found him guilty of the offence on 13 June. The court heard that Yaseen had made inappropriate comments during the delivery, returned to the woman’s address, and later touched her without consent while inside her home.

Following a police investigation, which included DNA evidence from the woman’s dress, Police Scotland submitted an urgent request on 19 June to suspend Yaseen’s licence on public safety grounds. The Licensing Sub-Committee initially imposed a six-week suspension and, during its meeting on Monday, opted to extend it until the licence expires on 5 August.

Police sergeant Grant Robinson told the committee that, in his view, the conviction rendered Yaseen unfit to hold a private hire licence. Yaseen claimed the encounter was consensual and that the contact had been accidental. However, committee members emphasised that the matter had been addressed through the courts and did not warrant further deliberation.

Councillor Neil Ross stated that Yaseen’s appeal should be made through the judicial system, while Councillor Joanna Mowat noted the gravity of the conviction and the lack of any credible reason to overturn the suspension. The committee confirmed that Yaseen may still apply for renewal of his licence after the current term ends, though any new application would be subject to further review.

Yaseen’s sentencing is scheduled for 28 July.