In a statement, Grafton said he had voted in favour of taking no action to “protect” Brown’s family.

He said that with the benefit of hindsight and information that was not available on the day of the meeting, an alternative decision could have been taken.

Grafton said he asked officials if there were any legal implications around the licence, and had assured himself that Brown “presented no current threat”.

He added: “The remaining vehicle licence would expire well before he was due for release.

“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.”

Grafton said he had not taken the decision to resign from Highland Council’s licensing committee and board lightly, and had lost sleep thinking about it.

An operator’s licence covers a vehicle, allowing it to be driven by someone holding a taxi driver’s licence.

Brown’s taxi driver’s licence was suspended in January 2024.