Taxi Driver Online

Moonlighting Plymouth PH driver took drugs to stay awake


A PLYMOUTH private hire -driver kept himself high on amphetamine to stay awake while working day and night, a court heard.

Gary O'Connor worked as a crab fisherman and moonlighted as a private-hire driver, working 18-19 hours a day.

He took drugs to keep himself going, selling them to others to pay for his own habit.

But his world came crashing down when his home was raided and he later pulled a knife in a fight with another taxi driver.

David Gittins, prosecuting, told Plymouth Crown Court that when police raided O'Connor's home in Haddington Road, Stoke, on February 2, they found amphetamine with a street value of £4,270 in a freezer in the communal hallway and in his kitchen.

In O'Connor's bedroom, they found empty self-seal bags and a wallet containing £1,180 cash.

On April 21, O'Connor got into a fist-fight with another taxi driver at 3.30am outside the Skiving Scholar bar on North Hill.

He accused the other man of 'stroking' – pushing in to steal his fare – got out and kicked the man's door, causing £75 damage.

After a short fight, he went to his car and produced a knife, saying later he intended to slash his rival's tyres.

But he surrendered it when a doorman from nearby Bar Cuba came across and asked him to hand it over.

Nick Lewin, for O'Connor, said he was working legally as a taxi-driver at the time, but was struggling with multiple problems including a relationship breakdown, child access and money worries.

"He was using amphetamine to work 18-19 hours a day and selling amphetamine to pay for his own use," he said. "He didn't use the knife or threaten to use it."

Mr Lewin said that if O'Connor was imprisoned, his 19-year-old son could be made homeless.

Judge Paul Darlow told O'Connor, who had pleaded guilty to possession of a class B drug with intent to supply, possession of a bladed article and criminal damage: "Producing a knife in the course of a heated and violent situation is particularly serious."

He jailed O'Connor for a total of 58 weeks and ordered the £1,180 to be confiscated and the drugs destroyed.