SHAME SHAME
NEWCASTLE TAXI DRIVER FOLLOWED PASSENGER AND ATTACKED HIM WITH METAL WHEEL BRACE AFTER FARE ROW
A taxi driver followed a passenger out of his cab and smashed him over the head with a wheel brace after a row about the cost of a journey. According to ChronicleLive, victim Jamie Brown, had disagreed with Tou- seef Ahmed about the cost of the fare from Newcastle city centre to Sunder- land in September 2018. A court heard Mr Brown paid the price Ahmed demanded but when he got out at his destination, he slammed the door shut. In response, Ahmed got out of his taxi and followed Mr Brown on foot, hitting him to the head with the metal wheel brace, causing a 10cm wound that needed seven staples.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the men had “disagreed” about the fare and as the taxi got closer to the victim’s home address. When Mr Brown got out, he asked Mr Ahmed why he was following him. The next thing he was aware of
was a significant pain to the left hand side of his head. His next memory was speaking to the police at home, at which point he clear- ly had a significant injury to his head. The court heard that police found Mr Brown's DNA on the wheel brace after the attack. Ahmed, 47, from Newcastle, claimed Mr Brown had been already injured when he got into the cab. But he later plead- ed guilty to causing unlawful wounding and having an offensive weapon. The Judge sentenced Ahmed to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with 225 hours’ unpaid work and a £250 compensation order.
PERTH DRIVER BANNED AFTER SWINGING IRON BAR AT MOTORIST
A Tayside taxi driver who confronted another motorist with an iron bar during a road-rage incident has had his licence revoked. The Courier reports that Steven Laughlin, 31, was filmed as he pulled the weapon out of his car and swung it at Ray Smith. Perth Sheriff Court was told Laughlin has had his taxi driver’s badge removed as a result of the criminal prosecution. On 14 December, the court heard how Laughlin felt his car had been clipped by the other vehicle on the road and he stopped to speak to the other driver about what happened. In-car footage of Laughlin reaching for the iron bar and com- ing out to face up to Mr Smith was shown to the court as he admitted breaching the peace. Sheriff Pino di Emidio said: “In effect, one followed the other off the road. It was his position that the car had been clipped by the Mr Smith’s car. “By the time the police arrived, Laughlin was being restrained by Mr Smith. It is alarming and thankfully things did not go beyond what they did. Having seen the video footage, we can only be thankful it didn’t end up with more significant harm being caused.” Laughlin, from Perth, admitted breaching the peace on 23 October 2018 by threatening Mr Smith with a metal bar. He was ordered to carry out 108 hours of unpaid work.
12
SCOTS PHV DRIVER WHO MADE SEXUAL COMMENTS LOSES LICENCE
A private hire driver who made sexual comments to a 17-year-old girl has been suspended. According to the Daily Record, Police Scotland argued Alexander Roberts was “no longer a fit and proper person to hold a licence” after he was found guilty earlier last month. The driver commented about his passenger’s breasts and “made reference” to her “having sex with him or carrying out sexual acts on him”, a police representative said. Glasgow’s licensing committee ruled Mr Roberts’ licence should be suspended for the unexpired portion of its dura- tion. It had been due to run until September next year. He had been suspended with immediate effect in August following a complaint from Police Scotland. The incident occurred in June when Mr Roberts took the girl to Drumchapel. The police representative said: “During the journey, it is alleged that Mr Roberts intentionally and for purposes of obtaining sexual gratification or humiliating, distressing or alarming the female passenger, directed sexual, verbal com- munication at her, without her consent.” Mr Roberts was cautioned and charged in July and appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on December 4. He was found guilty, fined £250 and ordered to pay £250 in compensation. He was also added to the Sexual Offenders Register. Cllr Alex Wilson, who chairs the licensing committee, said: “I would like to think our passengers are safe when they enter into a private hire or taxi on a regular basis. Any passenger should be safe and not be subject to this.”
JANUARY 2021
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