SHAME SHAME
SEX ATTACK BOLTON DRIVER SENT TO JAIL FOR 18 MONTHS
A taxi driver preyed on vulnerable women who were “held cap- tive” in the back of his car, a court heard. Ali Hassan, aged 35 from Bolton, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for two separate offences against young women. According to the Bolton News, the Judge jailed Hassan for six months for the first offence of attempted sexual
assault and 12 months for the second offence of sexual assault. The sentences are to run consecutively.
Bolton Crown Court heard that Hassan had been “emboldened” after seemingly get- ting away with his first offence - an attempted sexual assault - in Feb- ruary, 2008. The 18-year-old victim reported the incident to police and Hassan
was interviewed, but no further action was taken. The second offence took place in January, 2009.
Hassan, who is married and has four young children, was arrested in May last year, after police matched DNA taken from a kiss on his victim’s cheek.
Hassan must also sign the sex offenders’ reg- ister for the next ten years.
SPEEDING PERTH CABBIE’S SENTENCE IS ‘APPALLING’
The decision not to ban a cabbie who hur- tled along some of Perthshire’s most notorious roads at speeds of up to 100 mph “beggars belief,” safety campaigners have claimed.
Neil Colquhoun es- caped with just nine penalty points after being found guilty after trial of careless driving. Perth Sheriff Court heard how the 52-year- old ignored the pleas of terrified passengers as he drove through villages at speeds of up to 70mph during a late night trip from Perth to Crieff.
Colquhoun also hit “95mph or 100mph” while travelling along the infamous Burnbrae straight - a road which
claimed the lives of five locals in a horrific crash three years ago. Passengers told Perth Sheriff Court of their terror on the night in question, saying they repeatedly pleaded with their driver to slow down. Yet despite freezing temperatures, he ignored their requests.
Colquhoun was previ- ously banned from the road for 18 months after he was found guilty of dangerous driving in 2001. The decision to spare him a disqualification fol- lowing his latest conviction has out- raged campaigners. Kevin Clinton, head of road safety for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Acci-
dents (RoSPA) said Colquhoun was “very lucky.”
He told the Courier and Advertiser: “This sounds like an appalling piece of driv- ing that put his passengers, and everyone else on the road, at serious risk. “As a taxi driver, he had an even greater duty of care because his passengers were paying him to provide a service.”
Mr Clinton continued, “He is very lucky not to have been banned.” Sheriff Derek Liv- ingston added a £300 fine to the nine penalty points he handed to Colquhoun.
Colquhoun has now been stripped of his taxi operator’s licence.
HUNT ON FOR ROGUE NEWCASTLE TAXI DRIVER WHO LASHED OUT
A taxi driver battered a passenger with a golf club after an argument over the fare.
A trip home from New- castle city centre to Gosforth ended in vio- lence for the 36- year-old victim when he questioned how much his journey cost. Police are now hunting
the cabbie, who fled in his car following the attack, which left the victim with a serious cut on the back of his head. The incident happened at around midnight on Saturday night, 17 July. DC Andrew Scott told the Newcastle upon Tyne Evening Chroni- cle: “This was a nasty
assault and we are eager to trace the man responsible.
“Anyone who has any information about the vehicle, driver or assault should contact us Northumbria Police on 03456 043 043 ext 62470. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
NORFOLK TAXI DRIVER JAILED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER
A Norfolk taxi driver who made a series of death threats before setting fire to his brother-in-law’s house then twice attempting to run him over was jailed for 12 years last month.
Norwich Crown Court heard that Robert Whit- by, 55, crashed into the parked car of his intended victim Michael Jackson before forcing his way into his home near King’s Lynn. He smashed a coffee table over Mr Jackson’s head before firing a flare gun at him. The flare missed Mr Jack- son, but sparked a fire which tore through the house, gutting the property.
Mr Jackson managed to flee on foot but Whitby chased after him in his car, trying to run him over. Police arrived to find Mr Jack-
son trapped under Whitby’s vehicle. It is believed that, had they arrived moments later, Mr Jackson would have been killed. According to the East- ern Daily Press, Prosecutor John Farmer said Whitby, who had made two death threats the previ- ous day, had embarked on a campaign to kill his brother-in-law after a dispute over the own- ership of a taxi. As he was led away in hand- cuffs, Whitby shouted: “Next time you’ll be dead. It’s not over, my mates will get him.” Mr Farmer added: “He was patently deter- mined to kill him. Mr Jackson was terrified and described him as like a man possessed.” The house was badly damaged and must be rebuilt at a cost of £130,000. Possessions
worth between £30,000 and £60,000 were also destroyed in the fire and Mr Jackson’s car was written off follow- ing the attack.
Although he escaped serious injuries, Mr Jackson continues to suffer psychologically. Whitby, from King’s Lynn, who has a histo- ry of violent crimes, pleaded guilty to attempted murder after the incident, in March this year. A sec- ond charge of arson was left to lie on file as the fire had been start- ed accidentally.
The court heard Whit- by had fallen out with Mr and Mrs Jackson over the ownership of a Citroen Berlingo. He had been working for the couple as a taxi driver, but took it “very badly” when they refused to register the vehicle in his name.
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PHTM SEPTEMBER 2010
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