The owner of a taxi company has called on the council to improve provisions in Sudbury town centre, as 79 hackney carriages struggle to park in just eight dedicated spaces.
According to the East Anglian Daily Times, Brendan Flynn, who owns BMF Taxis, says the issue of parking in East Street has been ongoing for over a decade and, despite conversations with the Babergh licencing team and Suffolk County Council, he feels he is not being listened to.
He said that drivers have received tickets for parking on the double yellow lines when spaces were not available, but that the only other option for them is to drive around the town wasting fuel and causing environmental damage.
"It is very very frustrating, as you can appreciate, when people are out there trying to earn money," Mr Flynn said.
"We've been onto licensing and they said it is not their problem. Suffolk County Council also said it's not their problem. We've been bounced from pillar to post over the years.
"If there's eight spaces and 79 taxis there's a problem, isn't there? Anyone with a brain would say 'hang on a second here'.
"When you've got five or six traffic wardens descending on people just trying to earn a living it is not fair.
"They keep moving us on and moving us on and just yesterday my drivers got two tickets."
Mr Flynn, who operates 16 taxis in the town, said the costs of taxi licences, alongside the fuel costs added from driving around due to the lack of parking spaces, is making it difficult to continue.
"They are certainly putting me off carrying on with this job and trying to provide a service," he said. "There's no support whatsoever."
A Babergh District Council spokesperson said: “While it is Suffolk County Council which designates new taxi ranks, we do recognise additional spaces are needed and will continue to work with them and the trade to see how the problem can best be addressed.”
A Suffolk County Council spokesperson said: "We will continue to work with Babergh District Council to consider and review the options available to overcome the concerns."
Source: https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/24342981.bmf-taxis-boss-slams-lack-taxi-parking-sudbury-centre/
A thug threatened a cabbie with a bottle and then drove off in his vehicle.
Graham Stewart, 40, pounced on Lawland Rasul in Glasgow's Cathcart on Boxing Day 2023.
Stewart brandished a glass bottle at Mr Rasul and demanded cash after the driver stopped at his destination. Fearful Mr Rasul exited his car and fled from the scene before he called the police.
Officers later traced disqualified driver Stewart behind the wheel on the M8 where he was arrested.
Stewart pleaded guilty on 29 May, at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assault and robbery. He also admitted failing to do a breath test and driving while disqualified.
The court heard that Mr Rasul picked up Stewart in the city centre's Argyle Street and took him to the Cathkin area.
Prosecutor Katie Malcolm said: "At the end of the journey, Mr Rasul expected him to pay the fare and leave but he was grabbed by the shoulders by Stewart who said 'give me the money'.
"Mr Rasul noticed he had a glass bottle in his possession which he brandished while he demanded the money."
The terrified driver undid his seatbelt and ran off and to a nearby Greggs to call for help, leaving his wedding ring and PDA device inside.
Miss Malcolm added: "Mr Rasul saw his vehicle driving off in the general direction of the city centre."
Police were notified and traced the Skoda Superb car to the M8 eastbound. Stewart was in the driver's seat and he refused to do a roadside breath test.
Stewart was also found to be a disqualified driver from a case at Hamilton Sheriff Court in November 2022 when he was sentenced to 14 months in 2020 after he drove his works van on a busy motorway while on drugs.
A knife was also found in his boxer shorts.
Brian Fitzpatrick, defending, told the court that his client is currently serving a 13-month sentence imposed in March this year.
Sentencing was deferred pending background reports until next month by Sheriff Owen Mullan. Stewart had his remand in custody continued meantime.
Source: https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/24353005.thug-threatened-taxi-driver-glass-bottle/
A private hire driver was dragged underneath his car in an alleged robbery outside a convenience store.
TeessideLive reports that the incident reportedly took place on Overdale Road in Park End, Middlesbrough, on Tuesday, May 28.
Cleveland Police said at around 3.40pm a man suffered injuries caused by a vehicle after he was robbed outside the Family Shopper.
It is alleged a group of males who were outside the shop approached the man inside his black Skoda and proceeded to grab cash from him.
He was dragged under his vehicle in the struggle, where it rolled back over his leg, causing a suspected break. The 51-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment.
The force has confirmed a boy has been arrested.
A spokesperson said: "A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the incident and he remains on police bail whilst enquiries continue.
"Two other boys aged 16 and 17 were arrested but later released with no further action."
Pictures taken from the scene show a police car and an ambulance vehicle stationed outside the shop. A black PHV is also parked at the scene.
The owner of the shop has shared CCTV of the footage on social media.
In a post they said: "This man involved in this incident, an innocent man trying to do his daily job has now most probably lost his job, his income and his livelihood, due to a group of teenagers."
Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or anyone who may have dash cam footage to contact Middlesbrough CID on 101, quoting incident number 099584."
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously online at crimestoppers-uk.org or call 0800-555111.
Source: https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/taxi-driver-dragged-underneath-car-29257010
An Ipswich man who lied to police to help a friend following a collision between a taxi and a motorcyclist in Colchester has been given a suspended prison sentence.
The Ipswich Star reports that taxi driver, Samuel Obeng, 58, had panicked after the collision in October 2022, Ipswich Crown Court was told.
After stopping his taxi nearby, Obeng had contacted his friend, Lawrence Obese, and got him to lie to police about being the driver.
Obese had arrived at the scene of the accident 20 minutes later, claimed to officers to be Samuel Obeng and produced a driving licence and taxi driver ID in Obeng’s name.
Obese provided a breath sample, which was negative for drink and drugs, and had run off shortly afterwards when police realised he was not actually Obeng.
The court heard that the accident in which the motorcyclist was injured had been the motorcyclist’s fault.
Obeng, of Colchester, and Obese, 47, of Ipswich, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Obeng, who also admitted failing to stop after an accident and failing to report an accident, was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work.
Obese was given a 33-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months, a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work.
The court heard that Obeng was a licensed taxi driver and had panicked following the collision because he was worried the incident would be reported to the local council and feared he would lose his licence.
The court was told Obese had made a “terrible judgement call” by lying to police to help his friend and was “ashamed and embarrassed” by his actions.
Source: https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/24344611.ipswich-man-lied-police-colchester-taxi-driver-crash/
A cabbie picked up a drunk woman before driving her to the beach and raping her.
ChronicleLive reports that Ian Phillips was loitering in Sunderland city centre after finishing his shift during the early hours of the morning.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how two passers-by took the victim to the 48-year-old's vehicle and asked him to take her home safely.
Instead of ensuring she returned home from her night out, he took her to the Hendon beach area of the city where he raped her.
Phillips had already turned off the cameras in his taxi and logged off from work for the night.
Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said Phillips had turned off the cameras in his vehicle and waited for some time before picking up the woman.
She said the victim was particularly vulnerable and had described herself as "mortal drunk".
The court in Newcastle heard the woman had been on a night out in Sunderland in February last year. She was so drunk that she didn't have any money and couldn't see the screen of her phone.
Two people, who were passing by, helped her into Phillip's taxi. The next thing she remembered was leaning against the back of a car and a man standing at the other side of the boot watching her.
The court heard how she can remember saying "Why are we here, I should be going home" and the man saying "Come on, come on"'.
When she next opened her eyes, she realised she was in a car and was at Hendon beach.
The next thing she remembered was stumbling into her mother's home. The police were called when she began suffering from physical injuries and realised no money had been taken for a taxi.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said she is suffering from severe anxiety and depression as well as suspected PTSD. She said she has had to move house, to be closer to her family, and give up her job.
The woman said: "The incident left me broken as a person. I have no self-esteem or confidence. I don't sleep because of flashbacks and night terrors."
When Phillips was arrested, he said the woman had come onto him and the sex was consensual.
He claimed that he had already logged off from work so he could earn cash in hand. He also said he logged off to avoid being sent on longer jobs by the company he worked for at the time.
Phillips, from Easington Colliery, denied rape but was found guilty by a jury following a trial.
The court heard how Phillips, who worked as a taxi driver for nine years, was living with his wife and two children at the time.
Judge Robert Spragg told Phillips: "This was a sustained and prolonged incident. You drove her to two different places, ending up at the beach where you raped her.
"There was a significant degree of planning in my judgement.
"As she said in the trial 'We should be able to trust taxi drivers' and the vast majority of taxi drivers are trustful and are trusted."
The judge said he was "absolutely satisfied" that he had been waiting there with his cameras turned off hoping to pick up a vulnerable woman in drink, who he could take advantage of.
He sentenced Phillips to 12 years in prison with an extended licences period of five years - a total of 17 years.
Phillips must serve two thirds of his sentence before he can be considered for release.
He was also ordered to abide by a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order.
Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/county-durham-taxi-driver-picked-29234746
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