A TAXI driver who abducted a teenage girl in his car made a "poor decision", a court has heard.

Mohamed Youssef picked the girl, 13, up from a property in Kirkoswald Drive, Clydebank, and drove to Paisley town centre.

In February, the 35-year-old pleaded guilty to abducting the girl while in employment as a taxi driver.

During the journey on June 23, 2022, he refused to let the girl alight from the vehicle and then drove away with her inside, detaining her against her will.

The exact nature of the incident was not disclosed.

At sentencing on April 2 at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, Youssef's defence solicitor said: "He appreciates it's a serious matter.

"The [social work] report is as positive as it can be in the circumstances.

"He has no previous convictions. He appears to have made a poor decision during the course of this offence.

"He expresses his remorse. He is no longer able to work as a [taxi] driver."

But the court heard Youssef, of Renfrew, was instead working part-time as a delivery driver.

Sheriff David Hall said: "You appear as a man with no previous convictions.

"Your behaviour on the day in question was unacceptable and, as you now acknowledge, idiotic."

But he said there was an alternative to custody and ordered Youssef to do 200 hours of unpaid work in the community within 12 months.