Police have released footage from the night a Walsall man took an unattended PHV from an airport and led officers on a high-speed chase halfway up the country on motorways: https://youtu.be/QF9FSLqqLyU
The Express and Star reports that Mohammed Ahmed led police on a high-speed pursuit along the M6, M25 and M40, reaching speeds in excess of 130mph, and also drove into cordoned-off areas with roadworks in order to evade officers.
Despite losing a tyre to a police stinger device, he continued to drive away at speeds of more than 100mph.
But the 24-year-old was tracked by the National Police Air Service helicopter who informed police colleagues in Thames Valley Police and Warwickshire Police.
He drove into a cul-de-sac in Walsall and was arrested.
Following an investigation by Gatwick CID, Ahmed was charged with aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving.
Ahmed, unemployed of Walsall, appeared before Lewes Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, August 4.
He was disqualified from driving for 18 months, and was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work as part of a 14-month suspended prison sentence.
The court ordered him to complete 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) sessions and pay £841.53 in compensation to the taxi driver.
He must also pay £425 court costs and a victim surcharge of £187.
The court was told the incident happened on September 17 last year outside the South Terminal.
One taxi had declined to take him, and footage then showed Ahmed approach the driver’s side of another unattended parked Mercedes PHV.
The owner had gone inside momentarily to collect a fare, and had left the keys in the ignition.
Ahmed took the vehicle, and later attended the victim’s address to discard identification documents before driving off at speed.
Officers from Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit were alerted to the vehicle on the M23 and attempted to safely stop Ahmed.
But he drove dangerously, swerving in the road and reaching dangerously high speeds as he drove onto the M25 around London.
The NPAS helicopter tracked the vehicle from the M25 to the M40, then on into the Midlands and onto the M42 and M6.
Ahmed reached the A34 and was still driving at speeds of 70mph in a 30mph zone, going the wrong way around roundabouts, through red lights, and on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic.
Speaking after the case Detective Inspector Darren Lillywhite said: “Ahmed had been refused a fare when he decided to take the taxi outside the South Terminal.
“His driving was so reckless that police were not able to continue pursuing him because of the risk it posed to other road users and officers.
“Our colleagues from NPAS tracked him, and fortunately our colleagues from Warwickshire Police RPU were able to catch him and make the arrest.
“Ahmed is very lucky not to have caused serious harm to either himself, our officers, or other road users. His driving was appalling.”
A couple have been left scarred for life after senseless yobs allegedly launched a concrete slab onto their PHV from a pedestrian bridge.
The Daily Record reports that Amanda Finlay, 37, her husband, Terry, 36, and their two children, aged eight and 11, were on their way home in a PHV to Glenrothes in Fife at midnight on Saturday, August 5, when the horror incident took place.
The family had been travelling along the B921 from Kirkcaldy when their PHV windscreen was suddenly smashed with by a 12-inch piece of concrete.
Recalling the terrifying moment, Amanda said: "It came out of nowhere, we didn't see anything from the road - not a person, another car, nothing. Suddenly there was a huge smashing noise.
"We thought we had crashed into another car at first. We couldn't believe it was a big brick that had been launched through our windscreen."
The slab fell around 16ft from the flyover and directly into the passenger side of the vehicle before smashing into Terry's face, causing the skin around his eyebrow and eyelids to tear open.
The glass from the shattered windscreen flew into the back seats of the taxi and into Amanda's head, leaving her with a deep gash across her skull. Thankfully, the couple's children were left uninjured.
Amanda continued: "We came to a sudden stop and the kids were screaming - we had no idea what had just happened. Once I checked that they were okay, we got out of the car and the driver called the police."
Shocking images from Saturday night show Terry's face covered in blood with a deep gouge pictured above his right eyebrow. Amanda's head can also be seen oozing with blood, while the windscreen of the PHV has been left completely destroyed.
The pair were rushed to nearby Victoria Hospital for treatment, where they spent five and a half hours in the hands of medics.
She said: "We don't even know how many stitches he has, there are so many. They go from his eyelid and across his face. How that brick didn't catch his eye, I'll never know.
"We suspect his glasses might have saved his eye. Doctors told us it will scar. He's lucky to be alive."
Six days on from the horror ordeal, Amanda said her husband is only just beginning to recover and that he is now able to open his right eye. Meanwhile, the mum-of-two, who is a full-time carer, has started to suffer from excruciating headaches every morning.
Terry, who is a local bus driver, has been signed off work due to the incident. It is unknown when he will be able to return.
On Thursday 10 August, police confirmed that a 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged in connection with a series of incidents where items were thrown from a pedestrian flyover in Glenrothes.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "The incidents occurred on the B921 Kinglassie road between Sunday, July 16, and Sunday, August 14, and two people suffered injuries as a result of one of the incidents.
"The boy has been released on an undertaking to appear at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court at a later date. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."
A predator took advantage of a young girl’s “vulnerability”, growing in his bravado as he committed a series of increasingly serious sexual offences against her, a court was told.
According to the Northern Echo, former cabbie Allen March was said to have been aware that the girl had been the victim of online grooming and was at a low in her life.
Durham Crown Court heard that the first inkling she received of his unwanted attention was when he sent her a message commenting on her body and breasts, which his victim now believes was the defendant seeing, “what he could get away with”.
March moved on to touching offences before he raped the girl for the first time prior to her 13th birthday.
Joe Cully, prosecuting, said the defendant's abuse of the girl continued for several years, before his victim finally gained the courage to speak up about his activities, having feared for a long time that she would not be believed.
The 58-year-old defendant, from Crook, was charged with 18 sexual offences, including five of rape.
Despite his denials and claims that his victim was lying, he was convicted of all 18 offences following a week-long trial at the court in May.
March appeared back before the court via video link from nearby Durham Prison for his sentencing hearing on Wednesday 9 August.
Mr Cully said that important evidence emerged during the trial of March having sent a photograph of his private parts to another child and to a 17-year-old female passenger in his taxi.
The abuse victim’s impact statement was read to the court in which she said she was a “really vulnerable kid” when she first encountered March.
She said she suffered from low-esteem and had self-harmed as a result of his actions, which had badly affected her education.
In addition, she said she has suffered nightmares and flashbacks, and is nervous in the presence of men, refusing to answer the door to male delivery drivers or go alone in taxis or on public transport.
Chris Baker, for March, said he had no previous convictions, but added: “He has had his trial and knows there is no mitigation that can be put forward.”
Mr Baker said the defendant has his own health issues and “physical ailments” which he will have to endure during his, “very lengthy imprisonment.”
Judge James Adkin told March that he began grooming the girl from a young age and his complimentary message about her physique would appear to have been, “testing the water”.
The judge said some of the evidence heard about the sexual abuse of the victim, during the trial, was, “harrowing to listen to.”
Judge Adkin told March: “It’s said you’re previously of good character, but the more serious the offending, the less weight that holds.”
Sentencing him as, “an offender of particular concern”, he imposed the 23-year prison sentence with a one-year licence extension.
The result is that March will have to serve at least two-thirds of the 23 years, almost 16 years, before he will be eligible for release on licence.
He was made subject of a restraining order, relating to the victim, and registration as a sex offender, both for life, while he will also have to abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 30 years.
Cambridge City Council is asking the public and the licensed taxi trade for views on proposals to change certain requirements relating to its taxi licensing policy.
The council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy has a minimum and maximum age requirement for all licensed vehicles.
In 2018, as part of its Air Quality Action Plan, the council reviewed the maximum age requirements for zero-emission and ultra-low emission taxis to encourage the uptake of these vehicles by the taxi trade.
Since then, the uptake of these vehicles as taxis in Cambridge has been good. However due to a combination of economic factors over recent years, vehicles suitable to be used as taxis have become more difficult to source and less affordable for taxi drivers.
Following representations to the council by the taxi trade in Cambridge about helping with its transition to electric vehicles, the council has now opened a consultation on proposals to amend the council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy by:
Anyone interested can take part in the consultation by visiting https://cambridge.citizenlab.co/. The consultation is open until 27 August.
Cllr Russ McPherson, Chair of Licensing Committee, said: “Taxi drivers play a very important role in the day-to-day life of a city like Cambridge and we remain committed to helping the taxi trade flourish here.
“The council is constantly in dialogue with our taxi drivers and has listened to their concerns about having a wider choice of vehicles that can be licensed. We need to balance the concerns of the taxi trade with those of their customers and of the city as a whole, including in relation to improving the city’s air quality and working towards a net zero Cambridge.
“That’s why we are holding this consultation – and I would encourage as many people as possible to take part and have their say on these proposals.”
Following the end of the consultation period, the feedback will be collated and a report presented to the council’s Licensing Committee.
Would-be taxi drivers in Glasgow will still need to sit a topographical test — assessing their knowledge of Glasgow — to ensure they “know the city like the back of their hand”.
GlasgowLive reports that licensing chiefs have decided to keep the test after a public consultation revealed 76% of almost 850 respondents believed it remained relevant.
However, the questions will be updated every three years and tests will now be completed digitally to cut the amount of time potential drivers have to wait for their results.
Drivers who have left the trade will not need to sit a new test if they return within ten years.
Private hire drivers do not need to sit the test.
Cllr Alex WIlson, SNP, who chairs the licensing committee, had previously thought the test was “no longer fit for purpose” but he has “reviewed” his position.
“We can all use Sat Nav,” he said. “However, we’ve got the best drivers anywhere. We have got a fleet of drivers who know the city like the back of their hand.
“I think that’s what it comes down to, it’s not just a case of getting from A to B. We’ve got a lot of tourists within the city, our fleet of drivers are able to identify landmarks going round the city, I think that’s really important.
Applicants for a taxi driver’s licence - which also allows them to drive private hires - have been required to sit a test in person, in writing, in the city chambers under exam conditions. They received the result once the test had been marked by a licensing official.
From January, tests will be carried out digitally, although still under the supervision of officials, to speed up the process.
Cllr Wilson said: “I think it’s very, very important that our drivers are not discouraged by having to wait three or four weeks for a test result.
“I think the questions should be updated, the city does change very rapidly. That should be reflected in the questions that are asked.”
He added the test is “relevant in terms of customer service” and “setting our black hack trade apart from the private hire trade”.
Consultation was carried out after the council’s licensing section “received comment from the taxi trade in relation to the topographical test and whether or not it remained relevant”.
In total, there were 840 responses with 58% from members of the public and 21% from currently licensed taxi drivers. Those who believed the test was no longer relevant said drivers were able to use Sat Nav.
Results show that 75% of respondents believed the test’s 100 questions “remained appropriate”, while those who disagreed argued street names had changed, the test needed to be updated and the number of questions was too high.
Source: https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-taxi-test-stay-drivers-27489204
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.