Michael Stockdale, 67, was jailed in 2002 for a minimum three years and nine months after soliciting an undercover police officer, posing as a hit man, to kill the new partner of a woman he was infatuated with, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal said.

He offered $5000 for the murder but was arrested after a friend he approached to do the killing contacted police.

Stockdale appealed to the tribunal after Roads and Maritime Services in January rejected his application to drive a Hunter Valley wine tour bus, saying his criminal conviction “reflects negatively on your moral integrity and character”.

But tribunal member Professor Geoffrey Walker accepted Stockdale was deeply remorseful for the offence which “brought shame and humiliation on himself and, more importantly, on his family”.

“He had endeavoured over the past 13 years to attempt to lead a life which, in some measure, tries to ameliorate his appalling conduct,” Professor Walker said.

“The role of the criminal law and society is not only to punish, but to rehabilitate. He believes that by being denied a driver authority, he is continuing to be punished for events that occurred some 17 years ago and, in circumstances where he had already served a significant custodial sentence.”

A psychological assessment of Stockdale found it was not likely to commit criminal offences of any kind in the future.

“In his favour was the fact that he continues to enjoy the support of his wife, he does not have a prior criminal history and he has prospects for future employment,” the assessment said.

Professor Walker overturned the RMS decision. Stockdale is approved to hold a licence to conduct wine tours, but cannot drive children under 18 years.