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She added: "A person who provides such evidence has no reasonable expectation of privacy in respect of that evidence discussed in open court." Judge Smith said: "People who provide testimonials or character references are witnesses providing evidence to the court."

The councillor agreed that when she said she could lose her position, she meant by the electorate deciding not to vote for her. I could lose my position as chair of licensing."Ĭllr Banks added: "All the good hard work I've done in the past will be of no avail and it will just sit heavily on me and my family." I work grass roots, I've done a hell of a lot of work. She replied: "I could lose my position as a councillor. Mr Gallop asked Cllr Banks what "harm" she suggested she would suffer if the letter was made public.

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To get a behind the scenes look at how they work and the moments that don't make our stories, subscribe to our free weekly Echo Court Files newsletter, written by court reporter Neil Docking. Liverpool's courts are some of the busiest in the UK, with a huge variety of cases being heard each week. She told the court she was approached by Prior's mum to provide a reference for her son. He said Cllr Banks being "embarrassed" by her electorate knowing what she said about Prior was not a proper reason to withhold disclosure.Ĭllr Banks, who has represented Liverpool's Central ward since 2008, also sits on culture and tourism, audit and governance, overview and scrutiny committees.

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Part of the councillor's role on the licensing and gambling committee is overseeing the safety of taxi drivers and the travelling public.īut in a court hearing she argued she provided the reference in a personal capacity - despite the fact she signed the handwritten letter "Cllr Christine Banks".Ĭase law says character references are evidence and the default position is they should be released to the media on request, in accordance with open justice principles.īen Gallop, representing the ECHO, argued the "public interest" was heightened when the referee was a public official, who holds elected office.

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I would not have written that reference if l had known the full extent to his crime." When the ECHO requested the document, Cllr Banks objected, stating in an email: "l was not given the full information as to his crime. Joseph Prior, 40, of Fontenoy Street, Liverpool city centreĬllr Banks said: "I don't know the full extent of his court appearance, but find it out of character and popularity of Joseph". We can now publish the letter in full below, in which the former Lord Mayor said she had known Prior and his family for more than 40 years and told the judge he came "from a background of hardworking, good Christian family values". However, when we asked for a copy of the reference, Cllr Banks tried to block its release - leading to a legal battle won by the ECHO.

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Part of his defence mitigation was a reference from Cllr Banks, who chairs Liverpool council's licensing and gambling committee, along with the taxi driver licensing sub-committee.īoth Judge Rachel Smith and Prior's lawyer referred to the Labour councillor's "testimonial" at Liverpool Crown Court on March 4. The dad-of-one, who was arrested and later admitted common assault and offering the woman cocaine, was jailed for 18 months. When she rejected his advances, Prior took her to a McDonald's drive-thru, where she mouthed "help" to staff, who rang police. Prior, 40, lost his Sefton Council private hire licence in 2018, after eight women complained of him making "sexualised" comments.īut he went out late in Liverpool city centre in March 2019 to try and pick up illegal fares, when he targeted a "drunk" lone woman.Īfter the 23-year-old got in his Ford Focus, he pulled into a quiet street, then put his hand on the "terrified" victim's thigh.

A bogus taxi driver jailed for attacking a female passenger was given a character reference by a Liverpool councillor.Ĭllr Christine Banks provided a glowing "testimonial" for ex-private hire driver Joseph Prior, the ECHO can now reveal.