Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver left my boy, five, alone by kerb in Redcar, says mum



“THAT could have been the last time I ever saw my son.”

Those are the words of distraught mum-of-two Kimberley Hunter who says her five-year-old son, Rhys, was left on the side of the road by a school-run taxi driver.

For the last two months - since Kimberley went back to work full-time in September - Rhys’s dad, Christopher, has done the regular morning school run while the afternoon pick-up has been done by drivers from the Redcar taxi firm J&P Taxis.

The arrangement is that a J&P driver picks Rhys up from his primary school in Markse, and drops him off at the Redcar nursery, until his mum can come and collect him.

Kimberley said around two weeks ago Rhys was left in reception with teachers at the school for half an hour because a booked taxi didn’t turn up.

But on Tuesday, November 27, Kimberley arrived at the nursery to pick up Rhys as usual, after work as a sales administrator in Middlesbrough, to find out that Rhys had been left outside by himself.

“That Tuesday could have been the last time I ever saw my son,” said Kimberley, who lives in Marske with her husband, Christopher, a towbar-fitter, and children, Megan, 12, and Rhys.

“Rhys told me that the taxi driver told him to get out and just drove off. He said he watched him drive down the road and turn off. Luckily he had the sense to go and knock on the door of the nursery and a member of staff let him in.”

The manager of the nursery confirmed that a member of staff heard a knock on the door and when she answered Rhys was standing there alone with no sign of a taxi or driver.

Kimberley said every weekend she goes into the taxi office, books the days Rhys needs picking up and pays up front.

The agreement is for the taxi driver to go into school, sign for him and take him by taxi to the day nursery and take him inside to staff.

“I have entrusted them with my son,” said Kimberley.

“It’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely disgusting.

“I picked J&P Taxis because all their drivers are CRB (criminal record) checked - which is confirmed on the firm’s website - and I thought my son would be in safe hands - only for him to be left on the side of the road. I was straight on to the firm but the manager still hadn’t rung me back after two days.

“The week before they never even picked him up from school and when I went in to complain he hadn’t been booked in - even though I’d booked the days he needed picking up - but I was told that from then on he would be ‘high priority’ and then this happened.”

Rhys has been picked up from school by a nursery staff member since the incident.

The Gazette contacted the proprietor of J&P Taxis but he was unavailable for comment.


Read More http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teess ... z2Eayx1AG4

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

Sounds like a training issue, would a trained driver really leave a five year old at the side of the road unaccompanied ?

If so then the driver isn't smart, but I do think that the lady concerned could have contacted the education department and explained what had been happening.

Down here, an education badge is very hard to get.

A training issue?

You can't train people in common sense.

It was a private booking, nothing to do with the education department.

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Grandad,

even so how on earth can anyone with just leave a 5 year old it doesn't take 2 minutes to take them in and hand them over to nursery staff !! he or she should not be in the job if they are going to do things like that

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I get fed up with people expecting everyone but them look after there kids. There is no way i would let my 5 year old child be alone with a unknown taxi driver .When I have been in the taxi drivers place being left in charge of kids any age I always make sure there is someone who should be responsible to take the child from me,but you could hand the kid over to the wrong person ,BUT it is a situation I don't like being
But this driver needs a new job he is not right for taxi drivering

I was always advised by our LA that it was the Schools responsibility to oversee the Collection of the Pupils to and from the Vehicle at the school end of things, It was for a Teacher or carer to ensure the Pupil got into the correct vehicle and that Drivers should not enter the School itself...

though this clown took stupidity over and above the call of duty by leaving the poor wee mite stranded..

How do we know it's the drivers fault?
Surely the kid does'nt wait outside on his own?

A, as a driver, I would never pick up a 5 yr old on thier own.
B, as a parent, I would not let a 5 yr old get in a cab on his own.

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stressed controller!!!

I'm sure she should have insisted on an escort as well, but that would have cost..

Darling, ALL taxi drivers are CRB checked...

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Doesn't make them responsible or intelligent though.......

exactly, nor does it mean they are stand in parents

5 year old? I hope social services get involved

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Perhaps it was the driver who knocked on the door for him. The firm seems quiet decent, and the owner also has his contact number on the website.

all cab crb cheked anyway i woodnt leave boy on own i wood knock door but it still not driver fawlt as he is driver not nanny