SHAME SHAME
WOMAN TOOK KEYS FROM DRUNK SUNDERLAND CABBIE TO PREVENT HARM
A courageous woman has been praised for her quick thinking and bravery after taking the keys from a drunk taxi driver and refusing to give them back. The incident occurred on February 20, when Catherine Millington wit- nessed the driver in front, Magdy Mohammad, swerving across roads and driving dangerously. When his Skoda came to a stop at a traffic light, she approached the vehicle and noticed that the driver was clearly intoxicated and had a bottle of alcohol within reach. She took the keys from the ignition
to prevent him from continuing to endanger himself and others and locked herself in her own car. Mohammad, who was almost three times over the legal alcohol limit, became enraged and began banging on
Ms.Millington's car window, shouting and swearing. Despite being terrified, she refused to give the keys back and called the police for help who arrived on and arrested Mohammad. At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to two counts of drink driving but denied a charge of intentionally behaving
in a threatening manner. But the case against him was proven after trial, with Magistrates saying Ms Millington’s evidence was “clear, consistent and reliable” – and some of his was not. Magistrates banned him from driving for 36 months and imposed a 12-month community order, with 15 rehabilitation days and 100 hours of unpaid work. They also imposed 120 days of monitored alcohol abstinence and ordered him to pay Ms Millington £100 compensation, with £320 court costs.
COMMUNITY SENTENCE FOR CABBIE WHO KILLED PEDESTRIAN IN HORRIFIC WEST LOTHIAN CRASH
A taxi driver was sentenced on July 29, after admitting causing the death of a pedestrian. Muhammad Khan, had previously pleaded guilty to causing the death of Michael Slevin, on Valentine’s Day last year, by
driving at excessive speed without due care and attention. The court heard how Khan was driving at nearly twice the speed limit when he struck Mr Slevin. It was raining heavily and dark at the time of the accident, although the street was well lit. Mr Slevin, from Blackburn, West Lothian, had been socialising with friends. CCTV footage showed him leaving the pub shortly before midnight, appearing unsteady on his feet after drinking two pints of Guinness and five whiskies. Tragically, he ended up lying in the road, and Khan, who admitted failing to properly observe the
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road, failed to see Mr Slevin dressed in black and hit him. The impact caused Mr Slevin to be dragged along the road for 20 yards. Khan then reversed his taxi, inadvertently running over the victim a second time. Emergency services were called to the scene, but Mr Slevin was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at hospital. Khan’s passengers told the court they had been uncomfortable with his speed and were about to ask him to slow down when the collision occurred. Forensic evidence indicated Khan was driving at around 36mph in a 30mph zone. Defence counsel Simon Gilbride told the court that Khan was deeply remorseful for his actions
and had suffered from flashbacks and nightmares since the incident. He said Khan was a first offender with no previous convictions and a clean driving licence. Sheriff Susan Craig described the incident as a “horrible accident” telling Khan that no blame could be attached to Mr Slevin. She said the fact the accused was a profes- sional driver was an aggravating factor as was the fact that his victim was a vulnerable road user. She imposed a maximum tariff community sentence on Khan, electronically tagged him for 12 months on a 7pm-7am curfew and ordered him to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work within 6 months. In addition, she banned him from driving for 32 months and told him he would remain disqualified until he sat and passed the extended test of competence to drive.
SEPTEMBER 2024 PHTM
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