Three friends have been sentenced for their parts in a terrifying robberies on two taxi drivers.
According to StokeonTrentLive, prosecutor Jonathan Dickinson told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court: "On October 10 last year, Joshua Robinson Collier and Aiden Ryan (pictured) booked a taxi from Lucky Seven to pick them up at Tesco Extra in Longton at around 2pm.
"The CCTV showed the two entering the taxi. The pair were taken to Tunstall, got out and attempted to take the key to the car. There was a struggle. One of them took a plastic wallet containing £90 and attempted to punch the driver.
"They demanded his mobile phone. He suffered no significant injury but was shocked, shaking and concerned."
Mr Dickinson said the second incident took place at 12.20am on October 11. He said: "Ryan Wibberley called Lucky Seven to pick the three of them up from Sandyford to take them to Meir. The taxi driver was directed to Adams Avenue where he was grabbed by the throat from behind.
"The victim managed to break free and Mr Wibberley helped his co-defendants get out of the back of the car. Aiden Ryan attacked the driver punching him.
"Ryan Wibberley then left the scene while the other two continued the attack.
"After the defendants left, the taxi driver returned to the vehicle and saw that his Personal Digital Assistant and £250 had been stolen.
"He suffered from neck pain, a possible fractured nose, and two of his teeth had been removed.
"Collier and Ryan made their way back to Wibberley's house. Police were quickly made aware of the incident and attended the scene.
"The police arrested the pair in the garden. Wibberley was arrested in a nearby street."
The court heard that Collier was also involved in an incident at M&M Vehicle Repairs in King Street, Longton, on July 10. Mr Dickinson said: "The defendant, along with others caused damage estimated to be around £60,000."
The court heard Ryan was involved in two burglaries, stealing sports and education goods to the value of £1,500.
Collier, 21, from Bucknall, admitted two charges of robbery, two of criminal damage and one of theft. He was jailed for seven years with an extended licence of two years.
After being sentenced, he pointed a gun finger at Judge Graeme Smith and said 'suck your mum, d***head'. He received an extra 14 days in prison to run concurrently after admitting contempt of court.
Judge Smith told him: "The most serious of these offences were those on October 10 and 11. Nobody should have to go through the sort of thing you put these taxi drivers through. I do consider you dangerous as you have established yourself as an anti-social lifestyle.
"You have a high likelihood of reoffending. You have a prolific history of violent behaviour."
Ryan, 28, from Meir, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and two of robbery. Jailing him for six years and four months, Judge Smith told Ryan: "Your mitigation is in your mental health issues. Your aggravating features are your previous convictions."
Wibberley, 30, from Packmoor, pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery. Jailing him for 32 months, Judge Smith said: "You had no anticipation of the robbery therefore I can lower your starting point."
Source: https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/violent-robber-who-attacked-two-8763425
An unlicensed private hire driver has been ordered to pay fines and legal costs after being prosecuted by St Albans City and District Council.
According to the St Albans Review, Mohammed Tufayel Ahmed appeared at St Albans Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, August 30, where he was ordered to pay £918 in total.
Ahmed had been licensed by the local authority in 2013 but, despite being sent reminder letters, failed to renew his licence when it expired in August 2022.
In January 2023, the council received a complaint that Ahmed had been spotted touting for business near a taxi rank, and had picked up a paying customer.
During an investigation, CCTV footage appeared to capture the incident involving a Mercedes owned by Ahmed.
Appearing at St Albans Magistrates' Court, Mohammed Tufayel Ahmed admitted to a charge of plying for hire and was fined £80.
He was fined £40 after admitting driving a paying passenger without a private hire licence.
Ahmed was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £48 and £750 towards the council's costs.
Cllr Chris White said: “This was a successful prosecution brought by our licensing team.
“It shows that we will take vigorous action against any individual or organisation that breaches licensing regulations."
Source: https://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/23812772.st-albans-unlicensed-taxi-driver-ordered-pay-900/
A man sitting in a taxi in Hastings has been threatened by two men on a moped who attempted to rob him by waving a machete through the window and demanding his property.
According to More Radio, the victim, in his 20s, suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital, where the incident was then reported to police.
It happened on Wednesday, September 20 around 6.20pm on Malvern Way.
Police are appealing for witnesses.
If you have any information, or footage, contact police online or call 101 quoting serial 485 of 20/09.
Source: https://www.moreradio.online/news/sussex-news/man-threatened-by-machete-while-in-hastings-taxi/
Gwynedd Council has approved a recommendation to raise the fee for taxi licences by 12 per cent.
North Wales live reports that it has sparked fears that the cost of cab rides could increase, leaving more people isolated and fewer people applying to be cabbies.
The council says the significant rise was needed to allow for the recovery of "increasing costs".
Its general licensing committee approved the proposal which recommended raising the fees from October 1, 2023.
Council officer Gwenan Mai Roberts told its meeting today on Monday, 25 September, that it was needed to ensure that rising costs for administration and compliance of licences could be recovered in full.
After the committee unanimously accepted the proposal she said: "I think it is inevitable at some point we will get a request from taxi industry to increase fare rates and the sub-committee will have to consider this."
In 2013, it was decided that fees would be reviewed annually. There had been a two year gap with no increase due to the pandemic.
A 28 day consultation proposing a rise in 2023 had ended on August 18, with only one email objection received from a local taxi company concerned that the increase would "make things difficult" for companies to attract new drivers.
But Gwenan Mai Roberts said workload and costs "in all part of the process" including with the online system, had increased. Increased checks to the DVLA and HMRC had also increased workload.
She added the cabinet had agreed the licensing unit could try to raise income so it could "pay in full its own costs" due to the "dire financial situation" the council was in.
Source: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/gwynedd-taxi-fare-increases-look-27783224
City Taxis, the well-known private hire operator in North Yorkshire and Derbyshire, is changing its name to Veezu.
This switch comes after being acquired by the Veezu Group in February this year.
This isn't the first time Veezu has made such a move. Last year, they successfully changed their consumer-facing name in the southwest from V Cars to Veezu.
Veezu is widely regarded as being the fastest-growing private hire service in the UK.
In 2022 more than 12,500 driver-partners completed an average of one ride every two seconds.
City Taxis, which started in the 1980s with a fleet of 34 cars and a paper booking system, has come a long way.
Over the years, it has grown significantly and expanded its services to South Yorkshire and Derbyshire. This expansion was made possible through strategic acquisitions, including Mercury Taxis in Sheffield, Club Taxi in Chesterfield, Derby Taxis, and Skyline Taxis in Rotherham.
Arnie Singh, Veezu's Regional Managing Director, expressed his excitement, stating: "This change bring with it efficiencies for our business and creates a consistent brand of choice for driver-partners, passengers, and business accounts.
"Our footprint continues to grow, and this name change is another step on our journey to providing smarter local rides to communities nationwide."
Its rebranding efforts sees Veezu launched its biggest-yet marketing campaign entitled 'Smarter Local Rides' across the South Yorkshire and Derbyshire PHV market.
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
Lucio Valentino relies on his six-year-old Border Collie, Pixel, to help manage his mental health conditions, including depression and personality disorders.
Taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast are set to receive a briefing note aimed at clearing up confusion over out-of-area private hire vehicles.
Police are appealing to find a taxi driver who may have "vital clues" about the murder of Ryan Passey seven years ago since he was fatally stabbed in a Stourbridge nightclub.
A joint operation by Hull City Council, Wolverhampton Council, and Humberside Police has uncovered a number of safety issues with taxis operating in the city.
French taxi drivers are calling for government compensation after suffering significant revenue losses during the Paris Olympics.
Coventry city centre has introduced a new taxi marshal service aimed at improving safety and efficiency for late-night revellers.
A court heard harrowing details of the moment a drink-driving uninsured motorist killed three people in a 90mph crash.
The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans was amongst the thousands who enjoyed the Battle Proms at Highclere Castle on 3 August.
Swindon residents could be facing a hike in taxi fares from October after councillors gave the green light to a £1 increase in the standard fare minimum charge.
Ricky Harold, a 20-year veteran of the town’s taxi trade, was parked in a lay-by when his vehicle was struck from behind by a black Audi A2.
Chinese automotive giant Geely has deepened its commitment to the UK electric vehicle market with a £120m cash injection into London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC).
North Tyneside Council is facing a backlash over plans to increase taxi fares by 6.3%.
Nazim Asmal preyed on his victims after nights out in Preston and Darwen, driving them to secluded spots before carrying out horrific sexual assaults.
Newcastle is set to see a surge in pink taxis driven by women as part of a new initiative aimed at improving passenger safety.
An unlicensed taxi driver who picked up two vulnerable women in Aberdare has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 in fines and costs.