Drunken taxi passenger caused crash in Newcastle A TAXI was forced into a central reservation on a motorway when a drunken passenger grabbed the steering wheel.
Cabbie Manjit Singh had picked up Tony Hall in Newcastle and agreed to take him home despite the fact he was short of funds.
Hall gave Mr Singh his mobile phone as security in advance of him getting more cash to pay the fare.
But as they headed out of Newcastle up the central motorway, Hall began bickering with the taxi driver about the phone and a struggle ensued.
Despite the fact Mr Singh was travelling at around 60mph, Hall grabbed the steering wheel and forced the car into rope barriers in the centre of the road.
Mr Singh slammed the brakes on but was unable to prevent his cab crashing.
Now Hall has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting causing danger to road users by interfering with a motor vehicle.
Judge James Goss QC, at Newcastle Crown Court, told him: “Fortunately no one was injured but the potential for a serious accident was obviously great.
“A taxi driver is performing a public service and is entitled to be protected from criminal behaviour by people like you.”
Mr Singh had picked up Hall in Newcastle city centre around 3am on September 23 last year.
He asked to be taken to West Denton but said he had insufficient funds to get him there and asked the cabbie to take his phone until he got the money.
There followed an exchange between them about Hall wanting the sim card out of the phone. When Hall was unable to get the sim card out Mr Singh offered to help. Tim Gittins, defending, said: “An argument developed about what was going on, the defendant thought Mr Singh was trying to rip him off.
“A struggle ensued over the phone as they headed east towards the Cowgate roundabout.
“At some point the defendant, in the course of the struggle, moved the steering wheel so the vehicle went towards the central rope barriers.
“Mr Singh braked sharply and that minimised the collision, however there was a collision which caused damage to the front of the vehicle.”
Mr Singh took hold of Hall and stopped him from escaping.
Afterwards Hall tried to blame the taxi driver for the accident and lied that he had been talking on his mobile phone while driving.
The court heard the cabbie estimated the damage to his car was about £1,000.
Hall, 23, of Jubilee Court, Gosforth, was given 24 weeks’ prison, suspended for 18 months, and was put on a three-month curfew.
Andrew Rutter, defending, said Hall had a child and his partner was expecting twins.
source:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-ea ... z2C05eYd1T
Login
Register
FAQ
