Taxi Driver Online

Jailed Brothel Owner Worked As A Canterbury Cabbie

15th July 2009

Jailed pimp Tim Blake-Bowell worked as taxi-driver in Canterbury for the last two years after being granted a licence by the council.

Blake-Bowell, 47, of Querns Road, used to teach at King Ethelbert School in Birchington, and was convicted last week of controlling prostitutes for financial gain, along with his ex-wife Emma.

He had been working for the firm Cabco Canterbury as a private hire driver, meaning he could only take passengers who had pre-ordered a taxi.

A driver who works at the firm said: “He didn’t say what he was doing as such, but we all thought he was a male Lady of the Night.

“These poor teachers, they say they’re underpaid, which I think they are to sit in a room with little s***s that don’t want to be there, but you wouldn’t go out and prostitute yourself for a couple of hundred quid would you?”

Blake-Bowell became a licensed cab driver soon after the investigation into his prostitution racket began.

The driver, who did not wish to be named, said: “He did work hard; as a driver we never had any problems with him at all. But we all knew he was up to something on the side.

“He told me he advertised his massages on gay websites because it brought in more business, but he said he never gave them any extras. I thought ‘yeah right.”

According to the taxi firm’s owner, Robert Jones, the company was aware of the investigation before employing him and made sure to keep an eye on their new recruit.

Mr Jones, whose company operates from Dover Street, said his business has the technology to track his employees’ taxis, some of which have CCTV in them.

Mr Jones also said he made sure Mr Blake-Powell was not given jobs involving lone women or children.

He said: “He was pretty straight as a driver. He knew we were monitoring him. As a person, although what he did was despicable, he was a nice enough guy.

“He was pleasant enough – he wasn’t violent or out of order in any way. As a person he was a normal human being.”

Although Mr Blake-Powell was under investigation when he applied for his licence, they council said it was powerless to prevent it from being granted.

A council spokesman said: “Mr Blake-Bowell was given an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check when he first applied for a licence two years ago.

“It did not pick anything up, no previous convictions, nothing, so there was no reason not to issue him with a licence.”

But the convicted felon will not be able to drive a taxi again for a long time – he cannot reapply for a licence for at least five years

Source; yourcanterbury.co.uk

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ALSO

Jailed Gigolo Teacher Worked As Canterbury Taxi Driver

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

A taxi boss insists no women were at risk when he hired brothel pimp and gigolo Tim Blake-Bowell as a cab driver.

The shamed PE teacher, 47, of Querns Road, Canterbury, was jailed for nine months after admitting controlling six prostitutes including his wife Emma for financial gain from a flat in Wincheap.

He started the cab work after losing his teaching job in December 2007 while awaiting his trial.

After he was sentenced last week a regular city taxi passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, slammed the decision to put him behind the wheel in the city and picking up female passengers. He said: "I think it was shocking that Canterbury City Council knew of his background but couldn't deny him a taxi licence until he was sentenced.

"Who knows what he has been up to with all the young and vulnerable girls he has had in his taxi."

However Cab Co owner Robert Jones said no one was ever in danger and the reason he hired him was because his in-car CCTV cameras could keep an eye on him.

After Blake-Bowell was arrested and lost his job at King Ethelbert School in Birchington he applied for a job as a driver at Cab Co, the largest cab company in the district.

Mr Jones said: "Tim applied for a private hire driver licence and the city council couldn't refuse him. He approached us for a job and initially I said: 'No way, you must be joking, not with your record'.

"If I didn't hire him someone else would have done and if he worked for me we could keep any eye on him. Big Brother was watching him. We were quite open about his background and told our customers. We had no trouble with him at all."

City council spokesman Robert Davies said: "It's innocent until proven guilty so we could not refuse him."

Source; thisiskent.co.uk

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Brummie Cabbie.

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How does he know that somebody else would have the same low morals as himself. Cash first questions later

I find it difficult to believe that having been told a suspected pimp was going to be picking them up the customers said 'that's fine just get me from A to B'



Whilst I agree that people are innocent until proven guilty there really should be something councils can do when faced with these situations. What if something had gone wrong whilst he was awaiting trial

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

There is!!

A recent amendment to the legislation now allows LAs to immediately suspend a driver's licence pending a court appearance on extreme charges, i.e. rape, murder, manslaughter etc.

I believe the change happened at the same time that section 75 (PHV contract for more than 7 days) was amended.

Sorry I'm a bit vague, but we discussed it at our Taxi Trade Liaison meeting some time ago & I'm having a senior moment (as opposed to blonde moment) this morning.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Is running a brothal extreme enough though. Also you state that the council can suspend the license not that they can refuse to grant a license.
Were any of the women that "worked" in this brothal doing so under duress or were they using the facility so that they were not on the street?
There is a lot of difference between forcing someone into prostetution and allowing them to use your house for the purpose. Obviously both are illegal activities but no one is being endangered in the second instance.
Was there any evidence that he was propositioning eithe gay men or straight men whilst working in his cab?

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Grandad,

There lie the reason I suppose for the 'innocent until proven guilty'. It is easy to assume that somebody may persuade a naive and vulnerable person into believing what you tell them so that they may do what you ask and actually just providing a place for them to do what they already want to do

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Was his license and application for a license made after his arrest?

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

It would appear so

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Did the ask if any prosecutions were pending?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

That's the only indication that they may have done. Why don't you read the bloody article

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

ffs....you cant expect me to come on here once in a blue moon and meddle in such things as reported facts can you!!!!

I'm an icon ffs.

The guy shouldnt have got a license in the first place.......or maybe should have and then had it immediately suspended.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Self praise is no recommendation and even icons have to do their own reading or not in this particular case I fell for it hook line and sinker and I should have known better cos I've seen you comment prior to reading anything

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Intellectual Contributor Of Nonsense ! ! ! !

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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PMSL.......... you're bad

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

No I'm not.

If you put yourself on a pedestal, you should expect to be knocked down a peg or two!!

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.