A 29-year-old mother has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after leading police on a dangerous chase, reaching speeds of 60mph, with her baby in the front seat.

Charlotte Shipley's reckless driving, which included running red lights, driving on the wrong side of the road, and mounting a pavement with a pedestrian nearby, culminated in a collision with a taxi.

The incident unfolded on the morning of December 18, 2023, just five days after Shipley appeared in court for drug-driving and driving without insurance.

Prosecutor Barry White told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court that officers first spotted Shipley driving a Volkswagen with her young child in the front passenger seat on Etruria Road, Hanley. "There was a pedestrian walking on the pavement she mounted," Mr White stated.

A subsequent drug test revealed Shipley had cannabis in her system.

Dashcam footage captured Shipley's dangerous manoeuvers as she sped through residential streets, forcing other drivers to take evasive action. She reached speeds of 50mph in a 30mph zone and, despite a No Entry sign, turned onto Wellesley Street from the Snow Hill roundabout, where she collided with the oncoming taxi.

Mitigating, Anis Ali acknowledged the seriousness of Shipley’s actions, conceding that the “prolonged period of dangerous driving crossed the custody threshold.” However, he pointed out that no significant damage or injuries resulted from the chase and asked Judge Trevor Meegan to consider a suspended sentence.

Judge Meegan refused, emphasising the severity of Shipley’s offences and her disregard for public safety.

“You contravened red lights, you drove over speed bumps creating a third lane for yourself, you forced your way past traffic, you mounted a pavement on which a pedestrian was present. At Cemetery Road you were doing 60mph in a 30mph limit,” the judge stated.

He also highlighted the “breathtaking disregard for the safety of [her] own child” as a particularly aggravating factor. “This was a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road. There was total disregard for the safety of other road users.

"You were impaired by drugs and were driving at speeds significantly over the limit,” Judge Meegan added.

He also noted Shipley’s prior convictions for driving offences, including a prior drug-driving charge just days before the chase.

In addition to the ten-month prison sentence, Shipley, from Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, was banned from driving for two years and five months and must pass an extended driving test before regaining her licence.

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A Truro taxi driver who was filmed driving towards a group of teenagers he believed were intimidating homeless men has been lauded as a "hero" for his actions, despite admitting his methods might have appeared aggressive.

Stephen Rowe, of KC Taxis, spoke to Cornwall Live after the incident on Boscawen Street around 5:40 pm on January 19. Video footage shows Rowe driving erratically towards the group, beeping his horn as they scattered, before he exited his vehicle to shout at them.

Rowe explained that he was attempting to disperse a group of up to 15 youths who he said were “threatening” two vulnerable homeless individuals.

While acknowledging that it might have looked like he drove directly at the teens, he insisted he was manoeuvering to a safe stopping point nearby.

"I would do it again. I would do it over and over again if it stopped teenagers beating someone up," Rowe stated.

He said he repeatedly told the teens to “back off” and leave the visibly scared homeless men alone. Rowe also confirmed that he reported the incident to police after dropping off his passenger and later spoke with an officer to explain the situation.

Rowe's actions have garnered significant support on Cornwall Live's Facebook page. One commenter wrote: "I first thought, OMG, the taxi driver is a nutter, but once I read it he is a hero. We need more people like him. Well done.”

Another added: "Well done to the taxi driver. It was brave of him to intervene as the mob may have turned on him."

A third commenter praised Rowe's timely intervention, suggesting that waiting for the police might have allowed the situation to escalate. "Stephen Rowe acted in a timely manner with enough action to get their attention away from bullying the other people," she wrote.

Adding to the chorus of support, Rowe's wife, Natalie, expressed her pride in her husband.

"The driver is my husband and I am b***** proud of him for stepping in and not letting another situation unfold like previously where homeless people in Truro got very badly beaten up," she commented.

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West Yorkshire Police is appealing for information after a taxi driver left the scene of a collision on Dick Lane on Monday, January 27, leaving two teenage girls injured.

The incident, which occurred near the Thornbury roundabout just before 6:30pm, caused significant traffic disruption, with tailbacks reportedly stretching to the Stanningley Bypass.

A 12-year-old girl sustained non-life-threatening leg injuries and was taken to hospital, as was a 13-year-old girl with minor injuries.

A police spokesperson confirmed: "Officers were called at 6.24pm on January 27 to reports a taxi was in collision with two pedestrians."

They added, "Officers are keen to speak to a driver of the taxi who left the scene before the arrival of officers."

The police are urging anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them.

"Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact police via 101 or use the live chat facility at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat quoting 13250049920," the spokesperson said.

The Roads Policing Unit is currently investigating the incident.

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A 12-week public consultation has begun regarding the future of taxi licensing in North and West Cumbria.

Currently, taxis in the Cumberland area still operate under licensing districts of the former Allerdale, Carlisle City and Copeland authorities, which means the rules and tariffs are different for each of them.

The consultation will explore whether to maintain this status quo or implement a unified, Cumberland-wide licensing policy.

The Cumberland Council’s regulatory committee approved the launch of the consultation on Friday, January 31, after reviewing a draft of the Cumberland Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy 2025.

The initial draft of this policy sparked controversy among taxi operators, who expressed concerns about stringent regulations, including dress codes, restrictions on eating in vehicles and a proposed penalty points system.

The updated policy features significantly relaxed dress code requirements and a fixed penalty scheme for breaches of vehicle licence conditions, such as lacking a valid MOT.

The committee agreed on a points accumulation limit of 12 points over the licence period: three years for drivers and five years for operators. Councillors were informed that officers used a template points system adopted by other councils nationwide.

Councillor Trevor Allison expressed cautious support for the system, stating: “It seems okay because at the end of the day a senior officer would have the final say on the penalty points.”

Councillor Sam Pollen concurred, emphasising the system’s role in protecting drivers and adding: “Looking at that it seems robust enough because there’s an appeal process.”

The committee agreed that the points should remain active for longer than one year to serve as a stronger deterrent.

The policy is set to take effect on April 1.

The committee also decided to establish a working group to analyse the feedback received during the 12-week consultation period.

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A blind woman in her 80s and her guide dog were left stranded in the cold after a Wirral taxi driver refused to transport them.

Monica Price, who is registered blind, had booked two taxis with Argyle Taxis in Birkenhead to take her to and from a meeting a few miles from her Wallasey home.

Upon the arrival of her first taxi, Ms Price described being “screamed at” by the driver.

“The driver was most unfriendly and announced he had been waiting for at least five minutes,” she recounted. “He must have seen I had a Guide Dog but it was only when I got to the car with my dog’s harness in my hand that he screamed at me, ‘I can’t take you. I’m allergic. Get that dog away from me’.”

She said: “Eventually another taxi was called and I might have just put this episode down to experience but the man who came to collect me from my meeting was rude and belligerent, shouting he was allergic to dogs.

“He drove off and left me in the freezing cold. I had to get someone from the meeting to bring me home.”

Following the incidents, Ms Price is determined to raise awareness about the illegal refusal of service to guide dog owners.

“The Equality Act is very specific about taxi drivers, whether they work for black cabs or for one of the many private hire companies,” she explained. “Drivers must, by law, accept guide dogs and other assistance dogs unless they are allergic to dogs in which case, they must provide a medical certificate to verify this.”

She also noted that hire companies should maintain a list of drivers with medical exemptions and avoid dispatching them to passengers with assistance dogs.

Ms Price expressed frustration with the commonality of such refusals, saying: “Refusals on the grounds of allergy are common now throughout the UK. Taxi firms are saying they cannot force their drivers to take assistance dogs because if they try that the drivers will leave and go to other firms.”

She also described the frequent occurrence of “distressing remarks” from drivers. “One driver said to me, ‘I have the right to say who comes into my car, not you’,” she recalled. “When one driver taking me rang his company to complain about taking a guide dog the response which I heard was, ‘Sorry, mate. It won’t happen again’.”

Ms Price emphasised the well-trained nature of assistance dogs, stating: “These are working dogs, not pet dogs and they do their jobs extremely well.”

She concluded: “By refusing those of us who have them, drivers are refusing disabled people and are insisting on treating us differently. It is discrimination all the way. We should not have to feel distressed or apprehensive when we call a taxi.”

An Argyle Satellite spokesperson responded to the allegations, saying: “We are deeply disappointed to hear of the alleged incident and strongly condemn any breach of the Disability Discrimination Act or the Equality Act.

The spokesperson added that they expect all drivers to adhere to the Equality Act 2010 and carry assistance dogs without additional charge, except for those with valid medical exemptions.

“We have now begun an internal investigation, and will be fully compliant with Wirral Licensing, providing all details required including call recordings, and booking details, to assist them with their own investigations,” the spokesperson said.

“Since being made aware of the complaint, our team have been in contact with Monica Price to offer further support.”

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