IN THE NEWS
NORTHFLEET CABBIE SMASHED FELLOW CABBIES WINDOWS AFTER TOUTING ROW IN MAIDSTONE
A taxi driver smashed another cabbie’s window in a turf war feud over touting for fares outside a Wetherspoon pub in Maidstone. Magistrates heard that Rashpal Channa used an implement to smash the glass in fellow taxi driver Sayed Ahmadi's black cab after an expletive-laden rant. A war of words had erupted between the pair over Channa working. A court heard that Channa, who is licensed in Tonbridge and Malling, had pulled up outside the pub at about 4.30am on New Year's Day 2022 in his Vauxhall Insignia, near the rank in the High Street. Fellow cabbie, Mr Ahmadi, who is licensed by Maidstone council, spotted him working on his patch and decided to confront him. Christina Rowberry, prosecuting, told the court Mr Ahmadi performed a U-turn in his vehicle to speak with Channa, before trying to leave the area to take his passengers home. The prosecutor added: “But the defendant blocked his path (with his car) and there was some toing and froing and Mr Ahmadi then pulled away. “The defendant followed him, pulled up alongside him with something in his hand and used it to smash the nearside passenger window.
“He then drove off away and Mr Ahmadi reported it to two PCs in the town who told him to report it to the force control room.” Channa, 44, was later arrested and when quizzed by
police 24
got out of his car and shouted at him (to stop) and I pulled away past him.” However,
Mr Ahmadi
then said as he drove towards the direction of Gravesend, Channa caught up with him and followed him. He explained he took a different direction, but
made no comment. Channa, from Northfleet, was later charged with criminal damage which he denied when he first appeared before the courts in September 2022. His trial at Margate Magistrates' Court on January 16, was started without him as he didn’t arrive at the court in time. Magistrates decided to hear the evidence in his absence and Ms Rowberry showed the bench CCTV footage of the vehicles and Mr Ahmadi gave evidence. Mr Ahmadi told magistrates he had been working as a taxi driver in the area since 2010 and when he noticed Channa working on his patch – without a licence to do so – he had approached him. He added: “He started swearing and shouting and called me a mother f***** and I got frustrated as well and shouted back, but I gave up to do my fare to take these gentlemen home safely and I pulled away, but he was at this point he got in front of me and he kept breaking to intimidate me. He did that a few times. “A friend of mine at the taxi rank
stopped at traffic lights and as he waited for the lights to turn green, Channa pulled up alongside him and put his hand out of his window with something in his hand and smashed the window. Mr Ahmadi also said he’d had to pay £100 excess on his insurance policy to get the window repaired and as a result his insurance premium went up to £1,500 when he next renewed. Mr Ahmadi also told the court he had emailed Tonbridge and Malling council to report Channa was working off his patch that night and had smashed his window. Magistrates said Mr Ahmadi had given reliable and credible evidence and alongside the CCTV footage and a statement from a police officer and the fact that Channa was not there to give his input, they found him guilty of the offence. It was at this point Channa arrived at the court in Cecil Square and was told his sentencing was being adjourned until June 5, when he will hear his fate at the same venue. He was granted bail until then.
FEBRUARY 2024 PHTM
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