A Southwold taxi driver is on trial accused of assaulting an 80-year-old man following a dispute over parking.

Nikolaos Boutelis, 61, allegedly attacked the pensioner after he was criticised for parking near a junction and causing hazard in Reydon last year.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that the victim had knocked on the window of Boutelis’s taxi to express concern about the parking, but was met with a torrent of abuse and the pensioner said he was going to report him.

The prosecution alleges that Boutelis then got out of his vehicle and assaulted the elderly man, knocking him to the ground and continuing the attack.

The prosecution said that this was "out of all proportion to what started as a conversation through the driver’s window.” 

The victim sustained injuries including bruising, a graze, and back pain.

Boutelis denies assault causing actual bodily harm on March 25 2022.

He claims that the pensioner was the aggressor and had fallen to the ground himself. He also claimed the pensioner had told him to “get out of the country”.

The trial continues.

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A man has been denied a taxi licence by Middlesbrough Council due to a previous criminal conviction related to immigration offences.

The individual was convicted in 2013 of "conspiring/assisting unlawful immigration into an EU member state" and sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment.

According to the minutes of a recent licensing committee meeting: “The applicant appeared before committee as a result of a previous criminal conviction recorded on his DBS certificate”.

He had allowed his brother to live in a flat which he owned, “for which his brother paid rent to him” and the brother was allowed “to work in the applicant’s business, despite discovering that his brother was in the country illegally and had false documents”.

The applicant “felt obliged to cover for his brother out of family loyalty, and admitted to lying to immigration officers and lying when the matter went to court,” says the document. 

Despite the applicant's claims of being unaware of his brother's immigration status, the committee deemed his actions to be a serious act of dishonesty, making him unfit to hold a taxi licence.

The decision by Middlesbrough Council can be appealed to the Magistrates' Court within 21 days.

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Tension persists in Blackpool's taxi industry as an Uber driver alleges a frightening confrontation with local cabbies.

The incident, which reportedly occurred in November, involved two taxi drivers blocking the Uber driver's vehicle on Bispham Road and threatening him with a metal pole.

The Uber driver, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concern for his safety and highlighted the ongoing rivalry between the two groups.

Blackpool Council granted Uber a licence to operate in August after determining the operator was suitable to hold an operator's licence.

The council said it was legally obligated to issue the licence after Uber met all the necessary criteria for a private hire operator's licence.

"We are licensed now and we are here to stay,"  the Uber driver said.

However, Blackpool taxi driver Neil Charnock dismissed the claims as unfounded rumours.

"I cannot think of anyone so stupid enough to commit such an offence," he stated.

“Until these allegations are investigated, we should leave them as just rumour. Most vehicles have cameras, so you would expect the alleged offence would be caught on camera.” 

Charnock urged anyone with information to report it directly to the police.

The licensing of Uber in Blackpool has sparked controversy among local taxi drivers, who fear the company's lower fares could negatively impact their livelihoods.

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New restricted licences for operators, vehicles and drivers are set to be offered in the Telford area, allowing private hire drivers to take on a limited set of services, such as home-to-school transport.

A report to councillors said restricted licences would represent a more "compelling offer" for private hire firms who only carry out certain types of work.

A licensing committee meeting on Thursday 19 December, will hear that the scheme would help Telford & Wrekin Council regulate more services locally, as without it, there was a risk operators would seek to be licensed in areas with more flexible policies.

The report by the authority's licensing manager, Amitabh Singh, also said it would help ease a recruitment crisis in the trade.

He said there were "lots of competing alternative driving opportunities in the food and parcel delivery service areas, and the proposals in this report seek to overcome some of the difficulties in driver retention".

The report also said that "attracting new operators with new operating models will allow the council to uphold better standards in the private hire market".

If the policy is agreed, council officers would draw up the "conditions deemed necessary to ensure public safety".

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In a heartwarming display of community spirit, Ayr taxi drivers treated children and young carers from Whiteleys Retreat to a magical day at Blair Drummond Safari Park.

Inspired by the well-known Glasgow Taxi Outing, Rodney Harris of Ayr Premier Taxis and owner of the Venga Party Taxi spearheaded the initiative, joined by John Kelly (owner of Ayr Premier Taxis), Richard Colville (chairman of the local Taxi Owners Association), and Thomas Lindores (owner of A to B Taxis).

The Ayr Taxi Day Out team, along with the support of local businesses and the community, raised a fantastic £2,750 in just 13 weeks. All additional funds raised will go directly to Whiteleys Retreat, a charity offering respite breaks and support to families across Scotland dealing with childhood illnesses.

On 8 December, 18 taxis, complete with a police escort, departed Riverside Arena in Ayr at 10am, carrying 39 excited children and 22 adults.

Rodney Harris, brimming with pride, commented, "We exceeded expectations, raising £2,750 with more donations coming in! Seeing the taxis leave the car park and the well-wishers was truly special. Pulling this off in 13 weeks is incredible."

John Kelly, a veteran in the taxi trade since 1993, echoed the sentiment. "The highlight? Seeing so many happy children! The weather was perfect, and a big thank you to Police Scotland for the escort. We arrived at Blair Drummond at 11:30 am and the children spent a magical 3 hours exploring the park."

John expressed his gratitude to everyone involved. "I want to thank all the individuals, businesses, and especially the drivers who volunteered their time to make this day special. Our goal is to raise £3,000 for Whiteleys Retreat by the time we close our GoFundMe page next week."

Maxine Allan, Chief Executive and Founder of Whiteleys Retreat, was touched by the gesture. "Seeing the taxi convoy bringing the children together was incredibly emotional. They were buzzing with excitement! This could become an annual event, exploring different destinations in the future."

Maxine concluded by expressing her deepest gratitude. "A huge thank you to the Ayr Taxi drivers for their incredible kindness and generosity. We are also grateful to the local businesses who supported this fantastic day out."

To contribute to the Ayr Taxi Day Out fundraising efforts, visit: https://shorturl.at/YIQdc

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