Saltney cabbie caught going to toilet in Chester streetA TAXI driver from Flintshire who was taken to court after being caught on camera defecating in a Chester street has accused the council of ‘bullying’ him.
CCTV footage captured Alan Paul Goff, 49, stopping his car and defecating outside an industrial unit off Lightfoot Street in Hoole, Chester, in the early hours.
He was subsequently charged with two offences by Cheshire West and Chester Council and summoned before West Cheshire Magistrates’ Court.
Mr Goff, of Kynaston Drive, Saltney Ferry, Flintshire, admitted defecation contrary to a bye-law and littering contrary to the Environment Protection Act 1990 and was fined £200 and order to pay £515 in costs.
But he said health problems meant he was caught short and he had owned up and was willing to pay the fine without wasting the court’s time.
“I feel like I have been bullied and can’t believe things went this far,” said Mr Goff.
“I know it was wrong but I had no choice. I would have taken the fine.”
Mr Goff said he was forced to make an emergency toilet stop behind a bin on Deva Court, Lightfoot Street, in the early hours of September 4
He blames it on side effects from prescription antibiotics he was taking for dental problems.
“The antibiotics cause stomach cramps and the runs and I was in a lot of pain,” he said.
“I was out working early in the morning and tried to get to a toilet but the place I knew I could have gone was shut.
“I was trying to find somewhere but I went over a speed bump and that was that. I stopped the car and tried to find somewhere to go. I had no choice.
“I tried to hide myself out of the way and went behind the bin and did what I did. It was coming out of me like water.
“The bin was locked so I cleaned myself up as best I could and went home.”
Mr Goff said he did not work the following day because he was so unwell but went back to clean up his mess the day after.
“I got some disinfectant and a bucket, but when I got back it had been cleaned up,” he said.
“Then I heard the council was looking for me so I phoned them up and told them what I had done.”
Mr Goff said he was interviewed for an hour and presented with a dossier of evidence stretching to 40 pages.
He said: “It was over the top. I told them what I had done and that I couldn’t help it.
“Then I got a letter saying the council was prosecuting me and I would have to go to court. I couldn’t believe it.”
Mr Goff appeared in court on Thursday, January 3, and pleaded guilty to both offences.
He was fined £100 for each offence and ordered he pay £500 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
The prosecution had asked for costs of more than £1,500.
Mr Goff said: “I am worrying now about whether I am going to be able to keep my taxi badge.
“I work six nights a week and sometimes seven. You have to work 11 or 12 hours a night to try and get the money in.
“I can’t believe things went so far because I have never tried to deny what I did or run away from it.”
A spokesman for Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “We have a duty to follow up any complaints and that is what happened in this case.
“This is a rare case and we decided the best thing to do was to let the courts decide what action to take.
“We would point out we do not believe Mr Goff’s behaviour is what we would expect from a licensed taxi driver.”
http://www.chesterfirst.co.uk/news/1188 ... treet.aspx
Login
Register
FAQ
