Passengers called police after drunk taxi driver randomly slammed on brakes A taxi driver has been stripped of his licence and banned from the road for two years for drink-driving while three times over the limit carrying three passengers.
Romanian-born Radu Florea, 39, started boozing before work and later picked up three people who became alarmed at the way he was driving.
He kept braking for no reason and repeatedly asked them for directions as he tried to find their addresses in Yeovil, Somerset.
When they arrived at their destination he admitted he had been drinking and his passengers took the keys to his Vauxhall Zafira off him and called police.
Florea was arrested and a breathalyser produced a reading of 102mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Prosecutor Emma Chetland told Yeovil magistrates: "He was braking heavily when there was no apparent hazard.
"The passengers had to keep reminding him where they wanted to be dropped off and when they arrived at their destination they got out and called the police.
"The defendant admitted he had been drinking and said his life was ruined when the keys were taken off him."
Florea pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was banned from driving for 26 months and sentenced to a 12-month community order.
The defendant was working for Yeovil-based Radio Cabs at the time of the incident and boss Andy Rossiter said they had now introduced random breathalyser tests for drivers.
He said: "You can't imagine how angry I am. This guy has let us all down badly. We were devastated to learn about the events of the night in question.
"Luckily the quick thinking of a customer prevented a much more serious outcome."
Defending, Sam Morton said: "Six months ago my client was attacked in his cab.
"Since then he has started drinking more and on the day in question he started drinking before starting work at 7pm.
"He fully co-operated with the police and is resigned to the fact he will never work as a taxi driver again.
"He has a partner and a newborn baby and there was pressure to keep working when he perhaps knew he should not have been."
Florea, of Yeovil, was banned from applying for a Hackney carriage licence for a period of five years.
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