Taxi Driver Online

Harassment cabbie loses licence bid

A SOUTH Tyneside cabbie is finally off the roads after he lost an appeal to keep his licence. Lee Ridley has clocked up a harassment conviction, a caution for dishonesty, 13 penalty points and a handful of customer complaints in just 20 months.

He also lied to a council official when faced with a complaint, saying he was not on duty, when CCTV footage showed otherwise.

South Tyneside Council revoked his Hackney licence last October, but the 29-year-old – who's been a driver in the borough since 2006 – took the battle for his livelihood to the magistrates' court at the start of last month. And when that was rejected, Ridley then took his fight to the crown court.

While the appeal was ongoing Ridley, of Imeary Street, South Shields, was allowed to keep driving. But yesterday Newcastle Crown Court rejected his pleas, and the brakes were finally put on his career.

Mr Recorder Julian Goose, sitting with two magistrates, said the speeding and harassment convictions, together with Ridley's acceptance that he lied to an investigating officer in the past, meant he must lose his taxi licence altogether.

The judge said he put the complaints from four passengers aside, as no evidence was heard from them for him to rule upon. Judge Goose said: "If this was a single incident, if this was something we could see would readily be put behind someone, it might be different.

"We accept the appellant feels he has had a difficult time, but that does not excuse his behaviour. The only conclusion we can come to is his licence must be revoked, and we dismiss this appeal."

After the case, a spokesman for South Tyneside Council said: "Public safety is of paramount importance to us, and to the vast majority of our taxi drivers. We must ensure that any taxi driver operating in South Tyneside is a fit and proper person to do so.

"In this case it was considered appropriate to revoke the licence, and our decision has been upheld by the courts. "The council has an extremely good relationship with the taxi trade and carries out regular and rigorous checks on taxi and private hire vehicles and drivers."

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