Trowbridge passenger failed to pay £160 taxi fare



A man who took a taxi from Maidenhead to Trowbridge and made off without paying has appeared at the North West Wilts Magistrates’ Court.

Pawel Laszczych, 24, of Bond Street, Trowbridge, left behind ID after the trip on May 14 last year, and was tracked down by police.

Michaelle Hewitt, prosecuting, said the defendant still had not paid for the trip.

“He admitted in his interview with police that he had not paid the fare and that he had given the driver his Polish identification card,” she said.

“He said he wanted to pay, but he hadn’t got the money. The defendant was offered a conditional caution by police to pay last May. When he continued not to, the matter was turned over to the court.”

Mr Moses, defending, said it was an “extroardinary” case. “A guilty plea was entered at the earliest possible opportunity,” he said.

However, as Laszyzych does not speak English, he was unable to understand how to send the money to the driver. He needed a translator throughout the hearing.

“He cannot read or write in English,” said Mr Moses.

“He was lost in the system and so we are where we are. He is anxious for you to know that he always wanted to pay. He just did not know what do to or who to contact.”

Mr Moses said it was a “very unfortunate set of circumstances”, and his client had been unable to find work.

Magistrate Roger Coleman ordered the defendant to pay £160 to the taxi driver.

He said: “I understand you are unemployed, so I make no application for further costs.”

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/94 ... taxi_fare/

He said: “I understand you are unemployed, so I make no application for further costs.”

At last in writing/speak an illustration that it pays to screw the system - without paying

He will probably pay a bit here and there - and then nothing!!! The driver will go back to those whose job it is to uphold the law - and they will say - we have done all that we can do.

He will have no doubt found enough English to have claimed benefits and should have a compulsory order of say £5 per week taken off of him until the debt is settled - Annddd the driver needs a kick up the ar$e for not taking money up front.

At last in writing/speak an illustration that it pays to screw the system - without paying

He will probably pay a bit here and there - and then nothing!!! The driver will go back to those whose job it is to uphold the law - and they will say - we have done all that we can do.

He will have no doubt found enough English to have claimed benefits and should have a compulsory order of say £5 per week taken off of him until the debt is settled - Annddd the driver needs a kick up the ar$e for not taking money up front.

The court didn't award costs as it wanted to ensure the driver got his money, and he will, albeit via £5 a week. Unless the chap has a car and the court will seize it, sell it and pay the driver.

And if the chap doesn't pay, he will go to jail for a few weeks.

They don't send them to jail now for non payment, with the prison population bulging at the seams they avoid sending them to jail.

I'm reliably informed there is nothing a court likes more than sending someone to prison who has wilfully ignored one of their orders.

Unless the chap has a car and the court will seize it, sell it and pay the driver.

to be honest, he would have had to pay the 160.00 before i even set off on the journey

I'd bet that even if he has a car they would not be able to take it because he needs it to look for work.

If the fine was high enough they can take his house, and I'm pretty sure most of us need ours.

I think folks are getting confused between a civil fines/cost order, and a criminal one.

The only outstanding bill that should always be paid is a criminal fine/costs/compensation order, as that's the only bill that can lead you to jail.