Police are seeking a group of men wearing Christmas-themed fancy dress as they investigate a brutal attack on a taxi driver in Gloucester.
According to GloucestershireLive, the incident happened at around 11.35pm on December 16 in the Station Road area of the city.
Gloucestershire Police said the cabbie, a man in his 50s, was punched in the face while at a taxi rank on the road. He suffered facial injuries and was taken to hospital.
The force said a man in his 40s from Gloucester has been arrested on suspicion of assault. He has been released on bail while the investigation continues.
As part of their enquiries, officers want to locate a group of men who were near the scene of the incident. Police said the group were dressed as Christmas elves and it is believed one of them videoed the attack.
A statement from police said: "Police investigating an assault in Gloucester last month are hoping a group of men dressed as Christmas elves may be able to help them with their enquiries.
"A taxi driver in his 50s sustained facial injuries when a man punched him in the face at the taxi rank on Station Road at around 11.35pm on Saturday, December 16.
"The victim was taken to hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
"After reviewing CCTV footage, investigating officers believe at least one of the men in fancy dress may have videoed the incident on their phone and police are now asking him to come forward.
"They are also asking any other witnesses who may have seen what happened or may have mobile phone or dashcam footage to get in touch.
"You can contact police online by completing this online form and quoting incident 501 of 16 December.
Alternatively you can submit information anonymously to the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visit this website."
A teenager who left a taxi driver in a coma had been on Snapchat just seconds before crashing his car.
YorkshireLive reports that Connor Brian, now 20, smashed into the Toyota taxi being driven by Andrew Clark on September 24, 2022.
Leeds Crown Court heard on Tuesday 2 January that Brian had been captured on footage driving his Honda Civic car at high speeds.
Prosecutor Nathan Davis said Brian, from Holmfirth, had been at the Denby Dale Working Men's club and left at around midnight when he got into the car with a number of passengers.
Mr Davis said: "He came into Wakefield Road quickly and was asked by one of the passengers to slow down...It caused him to slow down a bit."
The court was told another car driving in the opposite direction caught the Honda driving along Wakefield Road. Mr Davis said: "The driver noted the defendant travelling well over the speed limit and believed he wasn't going to make the corner and would come across the road and collide with his vehicle.
"He [Brian] overtook a number of people on the road including a man who noted he was doing 30mph when the defendant came flying up behind him. He estimated he was going double the speed limit and when he overtook him he accelerated at speed at around 80 to 90mph. He later came across the accident."
Brian's car collided with the Toyota taxi being driven by Mr Clark who had to undergo emergency surgery, was put into a coma and remained in hospital for three weeks.
In a statement, Mr Clark said: "I used to be a healthy and fit man, enjoying time with my first ever grandson.
"On the 24th September 2022, I never expected my world to come crashing down. I thought I had died...It felt like I was drowning. I had hallucinations, things I thought had happened in the coma my family said didn't.
"I was in a coma for four days. My family helped me to continue pushing forward to get home where I belong. I couldn't eat or drink properly in hospital..."
It was said that a number of other passengers suffered injuries including whiplash and bruising, and the woman who asked Brian to slow down could not recall the crash but knew she was screaming.
The court heard that Mr Clark's family was called to the hospital before he underwent surgery to fix a number of his ribs. His wife said: "I thank the staff each day for keeping my husband alive and with his family where he belongs."
Mr Davis told the court that seconds before the collision, Brian had opened a Snapchat message. He said: "His phone was examined and showed earlier that evening he refers to him having had a drink and sent a message saying 'You're going to have to let me know if you need a lift' so he could monitor his own intake.
"While the car was moving his phone was unlocked on Snapchat and opened two images sent to him or accessed. At 00.14am and it appears to be seconds before the crash, a video was sent to him which he watched. At 00.15am the defendant calls 999.
The court was told Brian remained at the scene and took part in a number of breathalyser tests before providing a blood sample which showed he was under the legal limit for alcohol. It was said Brian pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving at the first available opportunity.
Mitigating, Esther Bukoye said: "He did remain at the scene and did call the police and co-operated. He does accept he demonstrated a severe lack of judgement to his driving. He doesn't shy away from that in any way and he's pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity."
Recorder of Leeds Judge Guy Kearl KC jailed Brian for 30 months and disqualified him from driving for four years and three months.
Craig from Norwich Black Cabs Association told PHTM: "It’s got to the point now whereby we feel we have to embarrass all the local authorities into action.
"The picture below shows private hire on both sides of the road sitting on designated hackney ranks for hackney carriages only.
"Hackneys cannot get on the ranks at all.
" Frustration is reaching boiling point and I fear drivers from both sides will clash physically."
A thief who failed to pay her £55 taxi fare and then pinched two greetings cards from a church shop wept when she received a lengthy prison sentence.
According to The Falkirk Herald, Donna Gray, 35, appeared from custody at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday having pleaded guilty to failing to pay her taxi fare in King Street, Stenhousemuir on June 6 last year and stealing a quantity of greetings cards from St Francis Xavier Church, Hope Street, Falkirk on June 28, 2022.
Procurator fiscal depute Christie MacColl said: “The witness was working as a taxi driver and picked up the accused at the Quick Stop Shop.
"She requested to be dropped off and attended at an address before returning to the taxi and requesting to be taken to two further addresses.
"The fare was £55.90 and the accused attempted to pay with a bank card, but this was declined. She said she would pay with another bank card and went into an address, but failed to return to the taxi.”
Later that same month Gray was seen to take two greetings cards from a church shop and leave without paying for them.
Gray was said to be living a “chaotic lifestyle” filled with alcohol and drug use.
Sheriff Alison Michie noted Gray, 33 Elizabeth Avenue, Larbert, had been placed on a community payback order for these offences, which she subsequently breached.
She said: “There is no alternative but to impose a period in custody – a theft from a church is not a low level offence.”
Sheriff Michie revoked Gray’s community payback order and sentenced her to 11 months in prison back dated to November 22.
A fed-up taxi driver is calling out a worrying rise in violent and abusive behaviour by Inverness passengers in 2023.
The Inverness Courier reports that Eric Taylor's worst moment of the year came late at night as an enraged woman attacked him and threw rocks at his cab.
But the 35-year-old claims to have experienced more instances of nasty verbal abuse, fare-dodging and threatening behaviour than in any of his previous 11 years as a taxi driver.
The Dingwall-based husband and dad, who works in and around Inverness, believes police should do more to protect drivers.
His call comes after a 59-year-old woman passenger was arrested and charged for an alleged hate crime after an incident in Inverness city centre in September. Dash-cam footage of the incident went viral at the time.
Other driver in the area agree .
One had quit evening work completely this year after several threatening incidents.
Another said he regularly used skills and training learned as a London nightclub bouncer to defuse potential violence or abuse.
Mr Taylor, who is self-employed and works with Inverness Taxis, told the Inverness Courier: “Since January 1 this year I have experienced around 30 incidents of foul and abusive language or people trying to kick off aggressively.
“I feel it is getting much worse.
“There is a certain level of behaviour, as drivers, we know we have to tolerate, but some of it has gone way beyond.”
In the early hours of Sunday, August 20, Mr Taylor took two women from Milton Crescent to Milton of Leys.
A heated argument broke out between the passengers and when he stopped the car to pacify matters, he was stunned by one of the women’s reactions.
He recalled: “I asked for payment and the female behind me started punching the headrest.
“She got out of the car and started kicking it. I shouted at her to stop and she opened my passenger door and started punching and kicking me.
“After I managed to get the door locked, she started throwing rocks at the car.”
Having phoned 999, Mr Taylor says officers were still to show up after half an hour.
When a 4x4 vehicle driven by a male friend of the women arrived, Mr Taylor felt seriously vulnerable.
It was only when he drove away, with the violent woman having already left, that he encountered a police car approaching.
Frustrated at the slow response, he declined to take the matter further.
Mr Taylor added: “Some have suggested it is a post-lockdown phenomenon, with people letting off steam, but I don’t accept that.
“I also don’t accept hardship as an excuse for fare-dodging. People know the tariffs.
“My mental health is not the greatest at times and some of the stuff you hear can take a toll.
“It’s a great job, mostly, but some of what I’ve experienced this year is just unacceptable.
“Personal experience with Police Scotland in reporting crimes within the taxi does not fill me with the greatest of confidence. I have found control room staff to be very dismissive.”
Another driver, who did not wish to be identified, told us: “The situation, particularly weekend evenings, just grew intolerable. I now work days only.
“Some of the verbal abuse, more from those under the influence of drugs than drink, would shock people.”
Another driver said: “I understand what some colleagues face and it isn’t good, but I’m quite lucky.
“I have worked as a bouncer and security guard at big venues in London and can look after myself. I know how to approach these situations and diffuse them, but I understand how vulnerable some drivers must feel.”
Duncan Fraser, acting vice-chairman of Inverness Taxi Alliance, believes all drivers should invest in dashcam / cctv technology.
An unlicensed taxi driver who picked up two vulnerable women in Aberdare has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 in fines and costs.
Cleethorpes taxi drivers are breathing a sigh of relief after council enforcement officers cracked down on vehicles illegally parked in designated taxi ranks.
A Barry man has avoided jail after launching a drunken attack on a taxi driver who refused him entry to his vehicle.
Jersey’s taxi service is in crisis, with driver numbers plummeting by more than a quarter since 2014, a new report has revealed.
On Wednesday 27 July, more than 300 vulnerable youngsters were taken on an all-expenses paid trip to Southport.
Taxi drivers in the town will be able to charge passengers more following a decision by the borough council on 31 July.
A taxi driver has been sentenced to a community order after admitting causing the death of a pedestrian by driving at excessive speed.
A joint operation by council, police, and DVSA officials has seen three taxis taken off the road in Oldham due to safety concerns.
Taxi drivers licensed by Mid Sussex could soon be forced to accept card payments, following a surge in complaints about cash-only services.
Two men have avoided immediate jail time after a high-speed race left a taxi driver with serious injuries.
BYD, manufacturer of new energy vehicles and power batteries, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Uber, designed to bring 100,000 new BYD EVs onto the Uber platform across key global markets.
Ways of increasing the amount of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the city are set to be explored to make it easier for those who need one to get one.
Cumbrian taxi drivers are fighting back against proposed licensing changes they fear will cripple their livelihoods.
Bolton taxi drivers are urged to sign up for free safeguarding and disability awareness training before the deadline on October 31st, 2024.
A Conwy Council meeting on Monday revealed a critical failing that allowed a taxi driver whose license had been revoked to continue transporting children to school.
Worcester City Council is seeking public opinion on a proposal to make safeguarding training mandatory for taxi and private hire drivers.
A proposal to increase driver, vehicle and private hire operator licences was discussed on Friday 19 July 19 at Sheffield City Council’s waste and street scene committee.
Through this collaboration, FREENOW willl provide additional benefits giving drivers up to 25% off pay-as-you-go rates across the entire bp pulse electric charging network and discounted fuel at all UK bp branded sites.
Wakefield Licensing, working alongside West Yorks Police Roads Policing unit, NPT, Off-Road Bike Team, Police Intercept Team, DVLA & DVSA, held a Partnership Day of Action at Thornes Park.