A former Doncaster cabbie who subjected a pair of disabled women to a string of rapes and sex attacks has been jailed for 18 years.
The Doncaster Free Press reports that Derek Bilby, now 64, had built up a relationship with the victims, who both have significant disabilities, after picking them up in his cab.
But he committed horrific sex attacks on the two “extremely vulnerable” women he had met through work and has now been jailed for 18 years.
He continued to visit them at their homes, grooming them before carrying out his perverse acts over a two-year period.
Both women were able to tell their respective carers what had happened, and Bilby was arrested.
Following a complex investigation, he was charged with multiple offences in May 2022.
On 12 October 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of rape, two counts of sexual assault, assault by penetration and indecent exposure.
Investigating officer, Alex Storey said: “Both of these women have significant, long-term vulnerabilities and are practically housebound. Bilby took advantage of this, coercing his way inside their homes before forcing himself on them on multiple occasions.
“It’s sickening to know that both women felt they could trust him, and he was quick to take advantage of this.
"We initially launched our investigation into Bilby in January 2020, after the first incident was reported.
"With the help of speech experts to ensure the victims’ voices were heard, detectives carried out video interviews with both women.
"Forensics also strengthened the case, with Bilby’s DNA being found on one of the victims, and on the other’s clothing.”
Mr Storey added: “I can’t praise both of these women enough, this was a truly harrowing experience and they have shown exceptional bravery in working with us over the course of this investigation.
“We can’t rule out that Bilby targeted other women when he worked as a taxi driver in Doncaster a number of years ago, and I would urge anyone with concerns or suspicions to come forward.”
Bilby, formerly of Alexander Street in Bentley, was handed an 18-year sentence at Sheffield Crown Court and was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
A cabbie was hit with a parking fine while delivering emergency bloods to Manchester Royal Infirmary - and had his appeal rejected.
According to the M.E.N., Gary, who didn't want his surname published, is self-employed, but works part-time for a firm he says regularly works in partnership with the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to help deliver emergency bloods and x-rays.
Attending MRI to deliver bloods on April 8, he says he parked next to an ambulance before taking supplies inside. He returned minutes later to see a fixed penalty notice on his windscreen.
Gary said there was a sign inside his vehicle saying what he was there for - and who he was working for.
"The taxi firm I work for has a contract with the NHS so we can help deliver bloods, X-rays, respond to 111 calls and also take patients to dialysis meetings," Gary, from Liverpool said.
"I parked in an ambulance bay next to an ambulance, put the sign in the window and went into the hospital.
"I must have been there for about ten minutes before I came back to see a sticker on my screen from ParkingEye."
Gary said he approached a ParkingEye worker, who told him he had received a ticket as he had parked in a blue badge spot - and because the sign wasn't visible in the window.
The ticket, Gary highlighted, states he parked in a designated 'emergency area'.
Gary said. "I pointed out that the sign was still in the window and if they checked back on CCTV, they would see it's there.
Gary says he received a letter from ParkingEye informing him his appeal had been rejected on Tuesday 18 April 18.
The correspondence said: "We have reviewed the details outlined in your appeal, but we are not in receipt of sufficient evidence to confirm that the terms and conditions were not breached. These terms are clearly displayed on the signage located throughout the car park."
"We are writing to advise you that your recent appeal has been unsuccessful and that you have now reached the end of our internal appeals procedure."
The letter then informed Gary that he had 14 days to pay £35 of the fine, before it would rise to the full amount of £70.
The driver said his wife paid the fine in full the next day.
"I've never had anything like this before, I'm delivering blood, I'm working," he added.
"We've got people's records and bloods, I don’t think we should be parking in pay and display spaces to transport them, especially when it's an emergency."
ParkingEye said Gary parked in a 'no parking zone', which included patient transport drivers.
A Parkingeye spokesperson said: "The motorist received a parking charge notice after he parked in area that is reserved for ambulances only.
"The prominent signage clearly states that it is a no parking zone with no parking or waiting at any time, including blue badge holders and patient transport drivers.
"Parkingeye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their parking charge. If anyone has mitigating circumstances then we would encourage them to appeal."
A 16-year-old boy has been locked up for two years after he was involved in a knifepoint carjacking of a private hire vehicle.
The Express and Star reports that police were called after a private hire driver was threatened with a knife and his car was stolen in Highfield Road, Smethwick, at around 7.30pm on Monday 3 April.
Two boys, aged 15 and 16 were detained after police tracked the vehicle and brought it to a stop in Wolverhampton city centre.
The 16-year-old boy admitted robbery, possession of an offensive weapon and driving offences at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court. He was sentenced to two years in a young offender’s institution.
The 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. He was bailed ahead of being sentenced at a later date.
A cabbie has been stripped of his licence after police launched an investigation into allegations he raped his ex-partner.
Bristol city councillors ruled the man was no longer a “fit and proper person” to hold a private hire driver’s licence and refused his application to renew it.
The Bristol Post reports that Public Safety & Protection Sub-committee members heard that he was arrested on February 3 after his former girlfriend accused him of raping her last October.
The unnamed driver, who has an unblemished record and has not been the subject of any previous complaints, insists the allegations are “malicious” and that the woman has a “history of alcohol, mental illness and violence”, the hearing was told.
Recently published minutes of the meeting, held behind closed doors at City Hall on February 28, said the man’s solicitor told councillors that his ex-partner continued to contact him after the alleged incident and that it had nothing to do with his work as a private hire vehicle driver.
The lawyer said the couple had consensual sex on the date in question and the cabbie was “shocked” by her claims, which he denied.
He said a decision over charges in a rape case could take between six and 12 months.
The solicitor said there was no evidence the man was not a fit and proper person, but the panel disagreed.
The minutes said: “The members noted that their overriding responsibility is the safety of the public, they have only heard one version of events and at this stage it is only an allegation.
“Given the seriousness of the allegation, the members considered that [the man] could no longer be deemed a fit and proper person and that the application for the renewal of his private hire driver’s licence should be refused.”
Source: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/cabbie-loses-licence-after-arrest-8363409
An Oldham father who robbed a taxi driver at knifepoint was told he is "no role model" to his children by a judge when being sentenced.
According to the Oldham Times, on Monday, April 17, Karl Healy, from Royton, appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to robbery and threatening a person with a knife.
John Kennerley, prosecuting, told the court that in the early hours of October 3 last year, Healy got into a taxi which was driving on Shaw Road at the time of the incident.
Healy, 33, suggested to the driver he pull over before he punched him in the head and pointed a knife against the taxi driver's chest.
The driver jumped out of the car and "banged" his arm, which was vulnerable as it had recently been broken.
Healy stole £100 in cash from the driver that was in the car, as well as a set of keys belonging to the driver and a taxi phone.
He was eventually arrested at an address on Shaw Road, with Mr Kennerley saying he had left the taxi driver "shocked and traumatised" as well as with pain to his arm, forcing him to no longer work at night and to wear his arm in a sling.
Mark Fireman, defending, said Healy has had issues with drug abuse problems in the past which has fuelled his history of crime, which includes another instance of robbery.
He added that Healy wants to "get clean and become a better father" to his three children.
However, when passing sentence, Recorder Karen Brody said Healy was "no role model" to his children.
She added: "Things need to change if you want to be involved in your children's lives, you can't [be a parent] from prison."
Recorder Brody said the incident must have been "terrifying" for the victim who had suffered "emotional harm" as well as physical pain.
She sentenced Healy to five years and seven months in prison for his actions.
Source: https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/23463171.oldham-dad-robbed-taxi-driver-knifepoint-jailed/
A former paratrooper turned pet taxi driver is in the running for an Animal Star Award for his work in Wakefield and Pontefract.
Tariq Rehman, 75, from Stechford, had his licence removed by Solihull Council in November last year following a complaint from a passenger.
A taxi firm boss has branded the criminal justice system "broken" after new figures revealed almost a third of offenders in the town reoffended within a year.
Dramatic CCTV footage has captured the moment a hooded figure set a taxi alight on a residential driveway.
A Drongan taxi driver has been convicted of sexually assaulting a female passenger after offering to waive her fare in exchange for sex.
Artur Nowostawski has been jailed for six years and nine months after he attacked a taxi driver earlier this year.
Taxi drivers in the city are facing significant financial losses after a series of electric vehicle charging point failures left them unable to operate.
Police are appealing for help to trace a man who disappeared after getting into a taxi bound for the Otley area of Leeds.
The company’s operator licence includes a condition ordering all drivers to undergo the same training as those from other companies.
Police have stopped a private hire driver who was driving the wrong way on the M1 close to Junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead.
Newcastle City Council is set to introduce strict new measures to tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking near Newcastle International Airport.
West Mercia Police is appealing for information following a rape that took place in Malvern's Priory Park early on Sunday, August 4th.
Glasgow taxi users could be facing a near-10% fare increase and extended night-time charges.
At least 14 cars have been damaged since June, with drivers suffering financial loss and emotional distress.
The attack happened at around 12.45pm on Etruria Vale Road, Stoke, when the victim, driving a Toyota Avensis, was punched in the face by one of the men.
Cumberland Council has taken decisive action to protect public safety by revoking the licence of a taxi driver charged last week with a serious racially aggravated offence.
A historic bridge has been closed indefinitely after an Uber car became wedged on Saturday morning.
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.