A trainee bricklayer who subjected a taxi driver to a violent assault has been handed a suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay substantial compensation.

Ben Bland, now 21, admitted to assaulting the 25-year veteran driver and stealing his takings in a late-night incident on November 9, 2022.

Bradford Crown Court heard how Bland, under the influence of alcohol, choked and repeatedly punched the driver, leaving him shaken and fearful.

The victim suffered injuries including cuts, bruises, and a grazed ankle.

The court was told that Bland, who was picked up from a Halifax Tesco store, had initially requested a ride to Woodville Street but later demanded to be taken to a cash machine.

When the driver questioned Bland's lack of funds, the attack ensued. Bland forcibly exited the vehicle, stealing the driver's takings before fleeing the scene.

Despite a chase by another taxi driver, Bland evaded capture. However, DNA evidence from a discarded vape led to his arrest in February 2023.

In a victim impact statement, the driver described the incident as a terrifying ordeal that had left him nervous and fearful of future attacks.

Mitigating, defence counsel Gerald Hendron argued that Bland was intoxicated at the time and deeply remorseful for his actions.

Recorder Patrick Palmer sentenced Bland to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, with conditions including rehabilitation activity and a 60-day alcohol abstinence programme.

Bland was also ordered to pay £2,000 in compensation to the victim and £800 in court costs.

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Controversial plans by Uber to expand into Hartlepool have been approved by the local council despite opposition from existing taxi firms.

The ride-hailing giant will operate from the Hartlepool Enterprise Centre, with drivers using their own vehicles and the company's app to connect with customers.

The decision was made by the council's regulatory services committee, despite concerns raised by local taxi drivers about potential safety risks and the impact on the local industry.

Matthew Freckleton, head of cities for Uber UK, defended the company's plans, highlighting its "dynamic pricing" model and the rigorous background checks conducted on drivers.

Both Uber and council officers stressed enforcement action can be taken against drivers where offences are found to have occurred, with the information uploaded to a national database.

The application went before the panel as it falls outside the scope of the local authority’s current private hire and hackney carriage licensing policy.

This states such licences will only be granted to applicants who have an “operating base”, which is classed as a “building that it is used for the taking of private hire bookings”, within the local authority area.

A response from Uber noted “all private hire bookings will be managed through our app and records will be maintained within Uber’s computerised record system” and there will be no physical service in the Hartlepool office.

Local taxi firms, such as 23 Taxis, argued that a public consultation should be held before any changes to the policy are made.

He added: “If you just grant a licence against your own policy, that doesn’t seem to be quite right to me.”

The council has assured the public that it will monitor Uber's operations closely and take enforcement action against any drivers who violate the rules.

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Bolton Council is seeking approval to update the licensing conditions for private hire and hackney carriage vehicles.  

It would mean the vehicles must comply with the Euro 6 (diesel) and Euro 4 (petrol)* standard, OR be an Electric Vehicle, by the end of next year.  

But the change would only be implemented if the government agrees to the delivery of a Clean Taxi Fund for Greater Manchester. 

The fund would see £30.5m set aside for drivers across the city region to upgrade their vehicle to meet the new licensing standards. 

It would be run by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and drivers would be eligible to apply if their local borough has implemented the new standards.  

Drivers would have until 31 December 2025 to license an emission compliant vehicle. 

Bolton has over 300 licensed vehicles that are non-compliant with the Euro 6 (diesel) and Euro 4 (petrol) standards which means approximately 24% of the total fleet is non-compliant. 

The proposal will be put to the Licensing and Environmental Regulation Committee this month.  

Cllr Sue Haworth, Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member with responsibility for licencing said:?? “As a council we’re committed to making Bolton a cleaner, greener and healthier place to live. 

“Lowering emissions will have a significant effect in terms of reducing air pollution and helping to improve the health of residents. 

“If this policy is approved and implemented with the confirmation of the Clean Taxi Fund, private hire and hackney carriage drivers will be financially supported in upgrading their vehicles.”  

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Veezu, the UK's fastest-growing taxi and private hire vehicle business, has announced a charitable initiative to support NSPCC Childline Cymru this Christmas.

Throughout December, a portion of the revenue from each journey booked via the Veezu app will be donated to the children's charity.

The funds will be used to help ensure that children in Wales have access to essential support services during the festive season.

Sally Krouma, Marketing Manager at Veezu, expressed the company's commitment to giving back to the community: "We are delighted to support NSPCC Childline Cymru and contribute to the invaluable work they do. By donating a portion of our app booking revenue, we hope to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in Wales."

Hywel Peterson, Chairman of NSPCC Cymru, welcomed Veezu's generosity: "We are incredibly grateful to Veezu for their support through the Funded by Veezu initiative.

"Their contribution will help us to continue providing vital support to children and young people in Wales."

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Peterborough City Council councillors have voted against a proposal to make CCTV mandatory in all taxis and private hire vehicles licensed with the council.

The decision, made in a 37-8 vote with nine abstentions, came after significant opposition from local taxi drivers.

The proposed measure, which had been approved by the city's licensing committee in September, would have required drivers to install CCTV cameras in their vehicles at their own expense.

These cameras would have needed to be operational at all times during paid fares and while waiting at taxi ranks, capturing both the driver and passengers.

Taxi drivers in Peterborough expressed concerns about the additional costs associated with the CCTV systems, particularly given the current economic climate.

They also questioned the necessity of such measures, citing low crime rates in the city.

Several councillors who voted against the proposal highlighted potential drawbacks, including the risk of drivers registering their vehicles in neighbouring authorities with less stringent regulations.

They argued that this could lead to a two-tier system, undermining the purpose of the CCTV initiative.

While some councillors supported the CCTV proposal, citing potential safety benefits for both passengers and drivers, the majority ultimately voted against it.

The council did, however, agree to lobby the government for stricter national regulations on taxi licensing, aiming to prevent cross-border operations and ensure consistent standards across the country.

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