Tyneside taxi driver desperate for money flouted ban SHAMED taxi driver Gavin Spence was caught ferrying passengers around Tyneside despite being banned from the roads.
Spence was disqualified from driving for six months in August after racking up 12 points on his licence.
But less than two months later, the 48-year-old was back behind the wheel and working as a taxi driver.
He was only caught out when he was stopped by police in Stamfordham Road, in Newcastle’s West End, in the early hours of October 14.
Officers pulled him over because of a headlight out, the city’s magistrates heard, but they realised something was wrong when they ran a routine check on his licence.
It showed Spence, who was carrying three passengers in his Skoda Octavia, had been disqualified since August and wasn’t allowed back on the roads until February.
He was arrested and pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance.
Edith Sanderson, prosecuting, said: “PC Curvey and PC Gitten were on duty in a patrol car on Stamfordham Road, in Newcastle.
“They saw a silver Skoda Octavia travelling along the road with a front headlight out. Officers stopped the vehicle.
“The vehicle was being used as a taxi and had three male passengers onboard.
“The officers spoke to Mr Spence and PC Curvey conducted a driving licence check and it appeared he had been disqualified from driving for six months in this court on August 20 this year.
“He was about two months into his disqualification at the time of the stop.”
Spence, of Brigham Avenue, Montagu Estate, Newcastle, was arrested and taken to Etal Lane Police Station, where he admitted the offence.
Representing himself, Spence said: “There’s not much I can say.
“I’m not proud of it, but needs must, and I just desperately needed the money.”
Spence, who is now unemployed, was given a 12-month community order and ordered to do 180 hours’ unpaid work, reduced to 120 hours for his guilty plea.
He was also ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge and banned from the roads for a further six months.
He was given an absolute discharge for driving with no insurance.
The council confirmed his hackney cab licence had been revoked.
Nick Batty, a spokesperson for road safety charity Brake, said: “Anyone who flouts a driving ban or drives without insurance is showing a complete disregard for the law.
“Taxi drivers have the added responsibility of being in a position of trust with a duty of care for their passengers.
“Speeding is dangerous behaviour with potentially devastating consequences, and it is crucial that repeat speeding offenders are punished and serve the bans imposed.”
source:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/communit ... z2BYphiZp9
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