UNJUST DESSERTS
OUTRAGE AS JUDGE SLASHES TERM FOR HEMEL HEMPSTEAD SEX ATTACKER
The CCTV operator who helped catch a sex attacker says the deci- sion to cut his prison term is ‘disgusting’. As previously reported in PHTM, Maschain Pitchei, 45, from Tring, waited in a queue of taxis in Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, to lure a 20-year-old woman into his car in October last year. But little did he know that he was being tracked by eagle-eyed CCTV operator Israr Ali, who watched him take her to a secluded spot in nearby Pic- cotts End Road. The silver Ford Focus stopped and the lights were switched off, so Mr Ali called the police.
His actions, which won him an award,
landed bogus taxi driv- er Pitchei four years in prison, followed by a extended five-year licence period.
But that sentence was cut to just two years and eight months after a hearing at the Court of Appeal last month. The five-year licence period - in which Pitchei would have been supervised - has now been scrapped and he will be allowed out on licence after just 16 months.
Mr Ali told the Berkhamsted Gazette: “It is pretty disgusting, to be honest. It does not make you feel good about how the criminal justice system works. It is pathetic.” Hemel Hempstead MP, Mike Penning, told the Gazette that he would
be writing to the Attor- ney General to ask for Pitchei’s reduced sen- tence to be reconsid- ered. Mr Penning said: “It is ridiculously lenient and an insult to his vic- tim.
“What sort of message does that send out if you assault someone in this barbaric way and your sentence gets reduced to this?” He said the justice system has to be chal- lenged at times. He said: “From the vic- tim’s point of view, do you not think a third off for a guilty plea and now this, do you think that’s fair? “We have got one of the best legal systems in the world, but some- times they get it wrong.”
SCAFFOLDER ADMITS TO PEMBROKE DRIVER ASSAULTS
A scaffolder from Pem- broke Dock was called a “very lucky man” after magistrates decided not to imprison him for attacking two female taxi drivers.
According to the West Wales Mercury, Michael Paul Davies pleaded guilty to crim- inal damage and two
assault charges. Magistrates heard that on October 5, 2012 the 26-year-old went out drinking and during the course of the evening the former soldier rode in two taxis, and assaulted the two female drivers. One was left with bruised ribs and the other with
a bloodshot eye and cut lip.
Davies was sentenced to a community order under supervision for 18 months and 200 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay each taxi driver £500 com- pensation, plus £1,816.46 for damage to a taxi.
STOKE DRIVER RACIALLY ABUSED AND THREATENED
An elderly taxi driver was racially abused and threatened with a baseball bat.
Mohammed Arbab, 76, who works for Magnum Taxis, had picked up Joseph Dobson who became angry and aggressive when told he needed to pay £4.50 for his
Smile you’re on CCTV
Monitor what happens in your cab!
fare. Dobson called Mr Arbb a ‘black ******.’ Dobson then went into his house and came out holding a large wooden baseball bat and came towards the taxi. Mr Arbab re- mained locked in the car and contacted his base for the police. According to the
Stoke Sentinel, Dob- son pleaded guilty to possessing an offen- sive weapon and racially aggravated harrassment.
Dobson was handed a 12-month community order, ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work and pay £145 costs.
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www.camerafortaxi.co.uk PHTM JANUARY 2014
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