Newcastle private hire driver is stripped of licence over abuse

A private-hire driver has been stripped of his licence after an aggressive verbal attack on a passenger.

Devon Smith and a friend were getting a cab home from Newcastle city centre to Jesmond in the early hours after agreeing a £10 fee with the driver before the journey started.

But the duo were faced with verbal abuse as he drove them to their student flat. When the girls refused to pay more cash, the cabbie drove off with Miss Smith still in the car, locking the doors and parking at the top of the street.

It later emerged the driver, who only had a private hire licence, had been working illegally, having finished a shift three hours earlier.

Miss Smith, of Eslington Terrace, in Jesmond, said the frightening experience had left her shaken. She said: “It was really frightening, we just weren’t expecting it. I saw a taxi parked up in the street and I approached the driver and asked if he would take me and my friend to Jesmond, a journey which usually costs between £3 to £3.50.

“When approaching my street my friend told him he needed to turn left to which he aggressively replied, ‘shut the **** up’. We asked for his taxi number as we said we were going to report him to which he replied ‘69’ and laughed.

“When he pulled up outside my house, my friend got out and I paid him the £10 we had agreed. He demanded more money and said he also wanted a £5 tip. I refused and said that £10 was more than enough to which he drove off, with me still in the vehicle.

“The door my friend had got out of slammed shut and he locked me in the taxi. I refused to give him any more and he eventually let me out of the car. I was completely shaken but managed to get his registration number.”

A spokesman for Blueline said: “This incident was reported to us by the police. The vehicle was taken off the driver by the police and we collected it. We immediately reported the driver to the council and removed him from the business after this disgusting behaviour.

“The driver had finished his shift for Blueline three hours before the girl flagged him down on the street. It was not booked through the office. I would always urge passengers to book taxis through our office.”

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “A 28-year-old man has been cautioned for causing distress to a 21-year-old woman during a taxi journey in Newcastle on Sunday, November 20 by being verbally abusive towards her.”

source; http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/