A Gloucestershire cabbie has been sentenced to 24 months in prison, suspended for two years, for sexually assaulting a female passenger who fell asleep in his cab.

Taranjit Singh, 49, from Gloucester, denied the assault and claimed he may have accidentally touched her breast as he was putting her seatbelt on for her. He also said the victim had taken his hand and put it inside her trousers.

However, he was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault following a trial at Gloucester Crown Court on July 30.

The court heard that Singh had picked up the woman in her 20s and, instead of taking her home, drove her to an industrial estate where he sexually assaulted her.

The victim, who had fallen asleep, awoke to find Singh assaulting her. She tried to push him away but he persisted with the assault, telling her she was enjoying it.

The incident occurred in November 2021 after Singh, who was off-duty, agreed to pick up the victim, a breach of his taxi licence conditions.

The court was shown videos recorded by the victim on previous taxi rides where Singh had made sexual advances towards her. 

Following the sentencing, the victim said the incident had had a significant long-term impact on her mental health.

She expressed relief that she had reported the crime to prevent others from suffering similar experiences.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Singh has been banned from working as a taxi driver for 10 years, added to the Sex Offenders' Register for ten years and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prohibits him from working or acting as a taxi driver or other paid driver of people in any vehicle for the next ten years.

He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £4,380 in prosecution fees.

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Taxi drivers in St Albans are set to face increased costs for various licensing fees.

The St Albans City & District Council’s licensing and regulatory committee approved a series of fee changes on 22 October, which will come into effect on 1 November.

Key fee increases include:

• Vehicle Licence: From £253 to £281.19
• Number Plate Change: From £45 to £84.21

However, some fees will decrease, such as:

• New Driver’s Licence: From £481 to £405.57
• Driver’s Licence Renewal: From £468 to £380.05

Daniel Pattenden, an environmental health manager, explained that the fee changes are necessary to cover the council's costs. Previously, central costs were divided among all licence holders, but now they will be directly linked to the time spent processing each application.

Mr Pattenden said it would mean charges are applied in a “fairer” way.

While a five-week consultation was held, no responses were received.

The council's licensing committee unanimously approved the fee changes without any questions or debate.

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A private hire driver from Great Massingham has been slapped with a hefty fine after being caught operating without a licence.

Kevin Turner was caught in an undercover sting operation after West Norfolk Council had been tipped off that he was operating an unlicensed service.

Council officers booked two journeys with Turner, who used his own vehicle to transport passengers between West Acre, Great Massingham, and King's Lynn.

When interviewed, Turner admitted to acting as a private hire driver without the necessary licences and insurance. He also failed to register as a private hire proprietor.

King's Lynn Magistrates' Court found Turner guilty in his absence on 9 October 9.

He was ordered to pay a total of £2,090 in fines, costs, and surcharges, and received eight penalty points on his driving licence.

Councillor Jim Moriarty, Cabinet Member for Licensing at West Norfolk Council, expressed his concern over unlicensed drivers. He emphasised the importance of licensing procedures, which include medical checks, background checks and vehicle inspections.

"Unlicensed drivers bypass these essential safeguards, putting public safety at risk," he said. "It's unfair to licensed drivers who adhere to the regulations."

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Taxi drivers in Dorset are seeking a fare increase to combat rising costs. The proposed changes would affect fares outside of Weymouth and Portland.

The increase aims to cover rising fuel, insurance, and maintenance costs, ensuring that taxi drivers can maintain their livelihoods.

A 14-day public consultation will be launched to gather feedback on the proposed fare adjustments. The council's licensing committee will then make a final decision.

The proposals seek no change in the initial charge of £3 from 7am to 10pm and £4.50 from 10pm to 7am, but would increase the first mile charge from £4.40 to £4.80 on day rates and from £6.60 to £7.20 on evening rates.

The ’subsequent mile’ rates would increase from £2.80 to £3 daytime and £4.20 to £4.50 on evening rates.

Current Weymouth and Portland area taxi fares include a two-mile payment of £7.60, similar to neighbouring areas, apart from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, where the two-mile rate is £8.20.

The Weymouth and Portland increase, agreed in June 2023, added 20p to the first mile and 10p to each subsequent mile – although as in the rest of Dorset taxi drivers can charge less if they choose to.

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Radio Carlisle Taxis has made a significant donation to a local food bank, providing much-needed support to the community.

On 22 October, the taxi firm delivered five pallets of food and drink to the Cornerstone cafe in Denton Holme.

The cafe, which is linked to St James Church, offers affordable food, free Wi-Fi, and community activities.

A spokesperson for Radio Carlisle Taxis expressed their admiration for the work of the food bank volunteers and cafe staff.

They stated: "The donation will make a huge difference in helping local families who may be struggling."

The taxi firm is also exploring ways to support families and individuals during the upcoming Christmas period, recognising the potential hardships many face during this time.

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