JUST DESSERTS
JAIL FOR LIVERPOOL DRUG SMUGGLER WHO STABBED CABBIE TRYING TO STOP HIM FARE DODGING
A man stabbed and battered a cabbie after trying to avoid paying his fare. According to the Liverpool Echo, Char- lie Meadows, 23, left his victim with stab wounds to his shoulder after the assault in Old Swan last year. The driver’s car was left so badly dam- aged in the incident, which also saw other men damage it, that it had to be written off and he could not work. CCTV footage of the assault shown to the court by Fiona McNeill, prosecut- ing, showed a lengthy altercation between Meadows and driver John Gunning. Meadows got out of the car without paying but was followed by Mr Gunning in his taxi before the men begin to shout at each other. He then began to kick the car before Mr Gunning got out and a fight started
between the pair, who were joined by other people from nearby houses. This altercation went on for a num- ber of minutes before Meadows stabbed Mr Gun- ning three times. Recorder Jon Close, said it was not possible to come to a con- clusion on where the knife came from but he accepted that Meadows had not taken it with him. Meadows was also sentenced for two separate incidents a week apart in 2019 which saw him smuggle class A drugs into HMP Berwyn in North Wales. Recorder Jon Close said there was evi-
MAN JAILED FOR 20 MONTHS FOR PUNCHING GLASGOW CABBIE
A thug who punched and spat on a cabbie who refused his fare has been jailed for 20 months. According to the Glasgow Times, Michael McTaggart lashed out at Ian Hendry at a taxi rank in Rutherglen, South Lanark- shire, on November 19 last year. The 44-year-old had fled from Andrew McGills taxi the previ- ous day without paying the £8.40 bill. Mr McGill informed Mr Hendry about the incident before McTaggart entered his taxi and Mr Hendry rejected McTaggart’s order which led to the violent confrontation. Prosecutor Sara Latta said: “McTaggart punched Mr Hendry to his left cheek bone but the driver punched back. McTag- gart then spat twice with spittle landing on Mr Hendry’s face.” McTaggart then dented the passenger door by kicking it before making threatening: “I’m Mick McTaggart from Rutherglen, I will come back to get both of you.” Police later arrested McTaggart who admitted to officers that he called Mr Hendry a “tadger.” McTaggart pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to fraud and assaulting Mr Hendry to his injury. He also admitted wilfully or recklessly destroying property and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner. McTaggart will begin his latest jail term after he completes 183 days of a previous stint.
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dence Meadows had been naive as far as the drug offences were concerned and that he may have been led by oth- ers to believe it was tobacco. However, he said that was only small mitigation. Addressing the assault, Recorder Close said it was clear both men had original- ly been involved in a fight but that Meadows behaviour had escalated into a serious assault. Recorder Close said: “What happened next, and what persisted in a constant and prolonged attack, was of your own making and you are entirely to blame.” Meadows, of HMP Altcourse, was given a total sentence of six years and three months after pleading guilty to wound- ing with intent, possession of a bladed weapon and two counts of trying to take class A drugs into a prison.
£1,700 FINE FOR MAN WHO PUNCHED LEICESTER DRIVER
A man who punched a cabbie in an argument over a £20 fare has been ordered to pay £1,706 in fines, fees and com- pensation. According to the Leicester Mercury, the victim had picked up a young woman and was taking her to Roni Kotecha’s home in Leicester. who was to come out with the money, which the taxi driver was not happy about. Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard on 10 January, how the driver had stopped a distance from Kotecha’s house, which annoyed him. Kotecha walked up to the taxi and threw a £20 note into the taxi during the “verbal exchange”. The incident was all caught on CCTV and it showed the driv- er getting out of the taxi and approaching Kotecha, who punched him in the face, knocking his glasses off and cutting his face near to his eye. Kotecha then tried to swing at him again but missed and the taxi driver phoned the police. The incident, on Tuesday June 8 last year, led to Kotecha being charged with assault by beating, which he pleaded guilty to at an earlier hearing. Prosecutor Sajeela Hussain said the taxi driver was bleeding, had suffered “heavy bruising” and went to hospital after call- ing the police. She said he was unable to work for several weeks, losing earnings. Kotecha was ordered to pay a £1,246 fine, £250 compensation to the cabbie, a £125 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
FEBRUARY 2022
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