SHAME SHAME...
SECRET CRIMINAL LIFE OF BASINGSTOKE TAXI DRIVER INVOLVED IN COUNTY LINES DRUGS NETWORK
A failed businessman fell into a life of crime and drug addiction after his firm went bust, a court heard. The Basingstoke Gazette reports that Matthew Temple, from Basingstoke, was once a director of Eastleigh-registered firm, Order of Service Online, and owned a £420,000 detached home in Old Basing. But after a major creditor went bankrupt, the 46-year-old’s business fell into the red and was dissolved in 2016, three years after its creation. Seeking a new line of work, Temple began working as a taxi driver for Alpha Taxis in Basingstoke. It was during this time that Temple began involved in the G 423 county lines drug network, founded by Jeffrey Zani and Louis Robinson-Ventour. Their illicit business saw cocaine and heroin shipped from Hounslow into Basingstoke. The court heard Temple played a pivotal role, using his job as a taxi driver to ferry drug barons around the town. In his own words read out in court he boasted about being Basingstoke’s “number one taxi driver”. In a text messages written in Septem- ber 2018, Temple wrote: “I’m only out working, doing what I do best. Taking Basingstoke’s high rollers, drug dealers, ex-convicts and hood rats where they need to go. LOL. “It’s a tough job being Basingstoke’s num- ber one taxi driver.” Temple was not unknown to the police.
Court records showed he clocked up a num- ber of driving offences between 2016 and 2019 and was disqualified from driving but failed to notify his employer, continuing to work as a taxi driver. In April 2016, he was caught speeding, fined £440 and given five points on his licence. In July 2016 he was caught driving his taxi at 83mph, 13mph over the speed limit. In January 2017, he was fined £660 and a six more points were added to his licence for further driving offences. And in May 2019, he was caught driving his taxi with cocaine in his system. By November 2019, Temple was in prison after his criminal life finally caught up with him. Temple’s background was highlighted last month as he appeared at Winchester Crown Court for his role in a county lines network
operating in Basingstoke. The court heard that Temple was battling an addiction with crack cocaine and had fallen into working for the drugs network after his business went bust. The judge was told Temple had to sell his home in Old Basing, in December 2018. As well as being a taxi driver, Temple was also involved with a football team in Popley where he was paid partly in cash and partly in crack cocaine. Judge Andrew Barnett sentenced Temple to four years and eight months at a court hear- ing on 27 August. He was also given an additional four months for driving while dis- qualified, to be served concurrently. Temple was sentenced alongside Jeffrey Zani and Louis Robinson-Ventour. Summing up, Judge Barnett said that the trio “must bear the condemnation of soci- ety”. He said: “This is a conspiracy which was extensive and professionally run and it operated over a period of at least eight months that I have heard about and a great number of people that were involved with it. “The main two and founding fathers are not before the court and they are undoubtedly responsible for setting it up and getting you three involved. What the three of you have to understand is that people who get involved with the distribution of Class A drugs ruin their lives.”
ANGRY LONDON PHV DRIVER SPEEDS AWAY THROWING HIS PASSENGER TO THE GROUND
An angry PHV driver sped away throwing his passenger to the ground as he climbed out of the cab. Jay Henry, who lives in Hackney, east Lon- don, had ordered a Bolt taxi at around 11am on September 4. But the 36-year-old claims he was left unable to work for weeks after suffering an injured back and foot as a result of the impact. In the CCTV footage, the blue Toyota Pruis can be seen cruising down a residential road before swerving toward the pavement and coming to an abrupt stop. The passenger in the back seat begins to open his door as the driver appears to turn around and speak to him. Mr Henry continues to clamber out and places just one foot on the ground before suddenly the driver of the car speeds away.
90
He falls to the floor before looking over his shoulder in exasperation. He manages to get back to his feet and walks steadily down the street in the same
direction that the car drove off in. Mr Henry then takes a moment to compose himself and rearranges his satchel before making a call. According to the Daily Mail, Mr Henry said that the the driver had become upset when he arrived because he had forgotten his face mask and had to run back inside to col- lect it. He claims that after setting off the driver became more erratic, dangerously over- taking a learner driver and jumping red lights. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are investigating an allegation of assault against the cab driver who was working for the Bolt ride-hailing app at the time but that so far no arrests have been made. Bolt have been contacted for a comment.
OCTOBER 2020
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112
