A COUNCILLOR is fighting to clear his tainted name after he was cautioned for a series of taxi offences.

Cllr Sean Hornby claims he “mistakenly accepted a council caution” in return for the case being dropped — which led to him being suspended as Bolton Council’s planning chief.

The ward councillor for Little Lever and Darcy Lever has now referred the case to the council ombudsman in a bid to have his record wiped clean.

In March, Cllr Hornby received a caution when charged with using his car as a taxi without a licence; acting as a taxi driver without a licence; operating a car as a taxi without an operator licence; and using his car as a taxi without the correct insurance.

The case had been set to go to trial, but was halted at the last minute when Cllr Hornby agreed to accept a caution.

This week Cllr Hornby said he had “no option” but to take the caution because he could not afford to fight the case in court. He says he has always maintained his innocence in respect of the allegations.

In his case to the ombudsman, the councillor attempts to rebut the council’s case by providing evidence from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), together with emails and copies of the licence he was operating under.

Cllr Hornby also dismisses the council’s case that he acted as a taxi driver — or acting outside the terms of a PSV licence — by taking a £25 fare for one person while carrying four passengers. In his defence, it is claimed he could allow one person to pay on behalf of passengers, or individual people could pay the £6.25 charge.

Cllr John Walsh, leader of Bolton’s Conservative Group, said yesterday: “He accepted the caution and as for where he takes it from there is up to him.

“If he believes it has not been handled correctly he is entitled to take it to the ombudsman."

Bolton Council said it would be inappropriate to comment on the development.