A former taxi driver was today acquitted by a jury of raping a female passenger.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, following a two-week trial at Belfast Crown Court, the jury deliberated for around four hours before returning a not-guilty verdict against Colin Gray.
The nine men and three woman failed to reach a verdict on a second charge of sexual assault.
Mr Gray, 56, from Newtownards, was arrested following an allegation that he had taken a female passenger to the car park of a church in east Belfast in the early hours of February 28, 2016.
On that date, she was 19, whilst Mr Gray was 49 and worked for Value Cabs.
The complainant made the case that, following a night out with a friend, she got into Mr Gray’s silver Skoda, and that, after they arrived at her house, he then drove her to a nearby car park where he sexually assaulted then raped her in the back seat of the taxi.
Her version of events was completely rejected by Mr Gray, who claimed that the sexual activity in his car was both consensual and instigated by her.
When he gave evidence on his own behalf earlier this week, Mr Gray said the female passenger kissed him when they arrived at her home and that it was she who suggested going “somewhere else”.
He accepted there was sexual activity with the woman in his car, which he said she instigated, but he totally rejected her claim that he raped her.
Mr Gray told the jury he refused her request to have sexual intercourse as they didn’t have contraception and he was concerned about STIs.
Following a day of deliberations, the forewoman of the jury was asked whether they had reached a verdict on the rape charge upon which at least ten of them agreed.
She said they had, delivering a not-guilty verdict.
Regarding the sexual assault charge, the jury failed to reach a verdict.
Judge Donna McColgan KC then thanked the 12 members of the jury for their service and discharged them.
She then addressed the prosecuting barrister and said the Crown had until next Wednesday to make a decision regarding the sexual assault charge.
A 20-year-old man has been jailed for life for the murder of a private hire driver who was stabbed to death in Solihull last November.
Oliver Pugh was found guilty in July of the killing of Mohammed Istakhar, who was found with serious injuries on November 29 on Braggs Farm Road.
Sadly, nothing could be done to save the 44-year-old. Hours before, Mr Istakhar had picked up Pugh and Luca De Fazio from Birmingham city centre.
Mr Istakhar was directed to Braggs Farm Lane in the Earlswood and Dickens Heath area, where Pugh claimed he would fetch his fare from a caravan.
However when he returned he was armed with a knife which he used to stab the driver in the chest while he remained constrained by his seatbelt with no chance of escape.
Mr Istakhar fled but Pugh pursued him, delivering another knife wound to the leg, before leaving him for dead.
The killer then sped off in the victim's Vauxhall Insignia which he crashed through a hedge and into a field, before removing the PHV stickers and trying to steal registration plates to disguise the vehicle.
Pugh moved on to Nottinghamshire where he hid in a caravan for a week until he was arrested. Two members of the public found Mr Istakhar face down in the road and lifeless within hours of the stabbing.
Later that day De Fazio voluntarily attended a police station and told them what happened.
His account was accepted by the jury who found him not guilty of murder but he received a one-month sentence for possession of a knife.
A wanted appeal was issued for Pugh and following a number of leads from the public he was arrested hiding in a caravan in Derbyshire.
During interview, both denied any involvement in Mr. Istakhar’s death, suggesting that the other was to blame.
Today at Birmingham Crown Court Pugh was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 27 years. The cowardly killer reacted angrily as he was sentenced issuing a vile threat as he was ushered out of the court.
Pugh appeared disgruntled at the length of the punishment, repeating the term and shaking his head as he was led out of the dock. That prompted a member of the public gallery to respond 'you're a murderer you little [expletive]' to which Pugh mumbled his own reply threatening 'I'll punch you'.
His criminal past was also revealed including receiving a caution for taking a knife onto a school premises aged 17, as well as convictions for burgling three caravans.
Moments earlier the court had been told that 20-year-old Pugh 'regretted' killing Mr Istakhar.
The trial heard he had shamelessly boasted to a girl outside a chicken shop in Birmingham that he was 'going to rob a taxi' that night.
While co-defendant De Fazio claimed he told Pugh 'this is a good taxi driver, don't do anything'.
The 18-year-old also stated Mr Istakhar had begged Pugh to spare his life because he had a wife and children.
Reading an emotional statement in court, the victim's daughter Mariam Hijab, said: "Why did he have to pick these two idiots up? Why did it have to be our father? He didn't deserve this at all?"
She told how her 'selfless' father had worked all of his life in a factory and as a taxi driver, saving and saving to build a 'dream home' for the family.
Judge Simon Drew KC, passing sentence, said: "It is perfectly clear from what subsequently happened you were intent on causing trouble that evening. You engaged in repeated acts of unprovoked violence.
"By the time you got in Mr Istakhar's taxi and directed him to Braggs Farm Lane I have no doubt you intended to rob this vulnerable public servant at knife-point."
He concluded Pugh had formed the 'intention to kill' by the time he attacked the victim and said: "Anyone who stabs someone in the chest with a large knife as you did can have no other intent other than to kill.
"Furthermore when he managed to escape from the taxi and from you and run off down the road you hunted him down.
"You caught up with him and despite the fact he was bleeding down the road you delivered at least one more serious stab wound. When he collapsed and fell you offered no support. Never did you seek any help."
The judge acknowledged Pugh's mental health issues including ADHD as well as the fact the murder took place a few months after the last Coronavirus lockdown, which he stated particularly impacted young people.
Michelle Heeley Kc, defending, argued that Pugh's original intention on the night he stabbed Mr Istakhar was simply to avoid paying the fare, adding he acted 'impulsively, recklessly and was using a knife without thinking'.
She said: "He is filled with regret. Every night he has to live with and sleep with the consequences of his own actions."
Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood from the Homicide Team, said: “This was a horrific attack on a father who was out working that night to provide for his family.
“Earlier that evening, Pugh had also assaulted other men for no apparent reason. He was clearly intent on causing harm to others that night.
“Our thoughts remain with Mr Istakhar’s family and I hope this sentence can bring them some closure.”
Source: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/angry-scenes-taxi-driver-killer-27766447
A taxi burst into flames at Glasgow Airport as emergency crews dashed to the scene last night.
The Glasgow Times reports that 999 crews raced to Car Park 2 outside of the main terminal after the blaze erupted around 6.30pm on Thursday 21 September.
In video footage obtained by the Glasgow Times, flames can be seen leaping from the vehicle while a siren bellows from the sound system.
Shocked travellers could be seen watching on the ground floor of the multi-story car park as smoke billowed up into the sky. Luggage was abandoned on carts amid the incident.
It is understood the fire is not being treated as suspicious and no injuries have been reported at this time.
The car park was evacuated however an evacuation in the terminal did not take place, the Times also understands.
The fire has been extinguished and no disruption to the terminal building was reported.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 6.27pm on Thursday, September 21 to reports of a taxi on fire at the drop off point of Glasgow Airport.
“Operations Control mobilised one appliance to the scene where the crew extinguished the fire.
"There were no casualties and we left at 7.28pm after ensuring the area was safe."
Taxi and private hire drivers in Leeds have said long-running roadworks in the city centre are costing them their livelihoods.
Last year, work started to pedestrianise City Square to make it into a more "people-first environment". But taxi drivers have said the work was killing business, with some facing a 50% loss in their earnings.
The council has said its work is nearing completion and the scheme would reduce congestion while improving facilities for buses, pedestrians and cyclists.
However, cabbie Asaf Hussain told BBC Radio Leeds whichever direction he travelled in the city centre, he faced a hurdle.
"You can be pulling out of the station and before you've got anywhere your meter might be showing over £5.
"Before this, you used to be able to go right up to the university for £5."
As well as the pedestrianisation of City Square, work is also being carried out by Network Rail to transform the nearby main entrance to Leeds railway station and the surrounding area.
This has involved moving the taxi rank to behind the station on Princes Square, which drivers said had caused further problems.
Mark Vine, who has been a hackney carriage driver in Leeds for 18 years, said: "At the end of the day, my job is on the roads. If I can't get around, it's very frustrating for me, but also for my passengers.
"We have one road into Leeds city centre and the train station, and one road out, and everyone is using it.
"By the time we get out of the train station, the fare can be £2 or £3 more than it should be and passengers think they're being robbed."
Mr Vine said his income had been reduced by up to 50%, adding: "It's disgraceful."
Another taxi driver, Camaran Husaen, said the City Square roadworks had left him feeling "stressed and frustrated".
"I have to push myself to long hours to be able to get to what was near last year's wages. I'm a dad of three and all my family is being affected."
Councillor Helen Hayden, executive member for infrastructure and climate, said she understood the drivers' frustrations.
"We've put in bus gates which should help ease the flow of traffic. Hackney carriages are allowed through this, so that gives them priority along with buses."
She said there would be future economic benefits for taxi drivers once the works were completed because more people would visit Leeds.
She added: "The more attractive the city centre is, the more people are spending in shops, restaurants and getting taxis to where they need to be."
James Moy, associate sponsor for Leeds Area Improvements at Network Rail, said he understood drivers' concerns and apologised for the disruption.
"We have taken steps to alleviate issues, including implementing traffic marshals in Princes Square, which have helped to improve traffic flow through the area.
"We are also working closely with Leeds City Council to review what further improvements can be made."
There would not be enough electric charging points in South Ribble if all of the district’s taxi drivers were forced to switch to electric vehicles, councillors have been told.
According to Blog Preston, the warning came in a report to a meeting of South Ribble Borough Council’s licensing and safety committee, which heard that a lack of infrastructure could result in passenger demand not being met if an electric-only policy for taxis in the area was adopted.
However, a second barrier to the introduction of an emission-free fleet also exists – in the form of the price and performance of wheelchair-accessible electric vehicles. Members were told that the cost of such vehicles remains prohibitively high and their travel ranges too low.
They were shown examples of new or nearly new electric vehicles that could accommodate wheelchairs, but which had price tags of over £60,000 and would run for only around 200 miles before needing a charge.
The authority’s licensing manager, Chris Ward, said that they were “way out of price [reach] for our taxi drivers”.
Second hand motors that fell within the council’s vehicle age policy were much cheaper, but even less feasible in terms of their range – with one for £24,000 lasting barely a hundred miles between charges.
Mr. Ward described such options as “not fit for purpose” and said they risked leaving passengers’ needs unfulfilled.
He added that the duty placed upon the local authority to provide “a diverse fleet of vehicles” for residents was “just as important as working towards the council’s objectives for air quality”. The council has also pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030.
However, the meeting heard that a change to the rules about the age of taxis permitted on South Ribble’s streets, which was made just over a year ago, had already served as an incentive for taxi drivers to purchase lower polluting vehicles.
Almost all new taxis licensed since then have been so-called “Euro 6”-rated vehicles, which limit harmful exhaust emissions. The only exceptions have some larger taxis required for transporting people with special needs.
Meanwhile, the number of hybrid taxis in South Ribble has more than doubled in the space of 15 months – from 10 to 26. The increase was put down to the decision last year to allow Euro 6 vehicles to be first licensed as taxis until they were six years of age and then remain licensed until they were 12 years old.
That contrasts with the rules for Euro 4 cars, which have to be first licensed within four years and can stay on the roads until they are eight.
The committee heard that there were still 11 already licensed taxis – all of the wheelchair-accessible or MPV type – that were not compliant with the new arrangements.
A consultation will now be carried out with the trade over a proposal to exempt those vehicles and allow them to remain licensed for up to 12 years, even though they are below Euro 6 standard – so that the diversity of the fleet in the borough can be maintained.
The results of the consultation will be reported to the committee for consideration at a future meeting.
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.