Two more Highland councillors have quit the licensing committee that controversially allowed a convicted rapist to retain his taxi operating license.
Cllrs John Grafton (left) and Willie MacKay.
Liberal Democrat John Grafton, member for Caol and Mallaig, and independent Willie MacKay, member for Wick and East Caithness, were among six councillors who voted to allow David Brown to keep his operator’s license.
Their decision to resign comes after we exclusively revealed that the committee’s chairman Sean Kennedy had stepped down.
Cllr Kennedy admitted he was “haunted” by how the decision might have affected Brown’s victim.
Brown (50) of Croy near Inverness, was jailed for six years and nine months in May following his attack on an 18-year-old female passenger in December 2023.
The Highland licensing committee voted in private last month to take no action on Brown’s operator’s licence.
Police Scotland had objected to the operator’s licence continuing in Brown’s name.
Highland Council said the decision would be referred to a future meeting of the full council for further consideration.
The six male councillors who voted in favour were opposed by the remaining four female members, raising accusations of misogyny against them.
Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland and Rape Crisis Scotland said it had sent a “harmful message” on women’s safety.
In a statement, Councillor Grafton confirmed he would be stepping down from roles he held within the Highland Licensing Committee and Licensing Board.
We can reveal that Cllr MacKay has taken the same decision.
Cllr Grafton said: “The decision I made on Tuesday 23rd June 2026 was made on the basis of the presentation on the day.
“This was supported by other members’ questions and comments.
“The taxi driver’s licence for David Brown had been taken away some time earlier, he was imprisoned and was not going to ‘get out’ for some time.
“Further, his operator’s plate had been returned and I presumed it would be struck out.
“At the time, I made the decision to protect the wife and family of a convicted rapist from further harm.
“I had checked the situation and asked the question if there were any legal implications, and assured myself that he presented no current threat.
“The remaining vehicle licence would expire well before he was due for release and his wife could apply for a licence in her own right.
“It is my compassion and my processing which led me to this decision on the day.
“We have been told in Licensing several times that we are not here to punish, that is the job of the courts.
“With the benefit of hindsight and information that was not available on the day, I now believe that this was not the right decision.
“I am therefore resigning from the Licensing Committee and Board, this is not a decision I have taken lightly and something I have lost sleep over.”
Cllr Grafton also apologised to her “my fellow ‘lady’ members” on the committee “for the distress I have invoked”, adding: “I would also like to apologise to the victim and their family for any distress this may have caused, that was not my intention.
“I really do want taxis to be a safe option for people whatever their gender or neurodivergence or disability.
“I hope we can make some adjustments in council to reinforce the safety of all.”
The other three male committee members who voted in favour were Chris Birt, Ruraidh Stewart and Duncan MacPherson.
Jackie Hendry, Lyndsey Johnston, Emma Knox and Kate MacLean voted against.