Suspension for Llanelli taxi driver who mocked passengers on TwitterA LLANELLI taxi driver who took pictures of his passengers and mocked them on Twitter will face a 21-day licence suspension.
In October, Richard Lee Evans posted pictures of his customers, their names, addresses, calling them such names as “Shrek”.
Mr Evans apologised through the media for his actions, calling it “a bit of fun”, but the matter was brought before a licensing inquiry at Carmarthenshire Council.
At an inquiry it emerged that a man known as Jason, who Mr Evans had called “Shrek”, is registered blind and suffers with a number of disabilities.
Public health services manager Sue Watts provided statements before the licensing committee yesterday on the impact Mr Evans’s actions had on his photographed customers.
Reading a letter on behalf of Jason’s auntie, Ms Watts said: “Mr Evans has humiliated my nephew by taking his picture and referring to him as ‘Shrek’.
“As a family we are proud of how our nephew deals and copes with his disability.
“He tries to lead a normal life and to fit in with society.
“Since the incident we have seen a change in his personality — he has become withdrawn, has lost confidence and believes that people in the community are now pointing at him and calling him Shrek.
“Mr Evans chose four elderly people and one blind person to have a joke with his friends. Vulnerable people.”
Mr Evans said he had seen Jason yesterday morning, the first time he had seen him since the incident had occurred, and had apologised to him.
The committee also heard a statement from the daughter of one of the elderly ladies Mr Evans had photographed.
It heard that following Mr Evans posting the woman’s picture on Twitter he visited her home to explain what he had done and that he had hoped she would not complain as he might lose his job.
The letter went on to say that, confused by the visit, the elderly woman thought she had done something wrong that would cause Mr Evans to lose his job, and spent sleepless nights worrying about it.
“She is now very distressed, and also frightened that if action is taken he may come to the house again,” the letter read.
“I am appalled that someone in a position of trust could act in this irresponsible, vindictive way.”
Speaking at the inquiry, Mr Evans said: “I want to clean up the mess that I have made.
“The Mr Evans that you see today is the Mr Evans the taxi driver — polite, always smartly dressed.
“I admit it was very foolish and there was no malice intended.
“I want to apologise to everyone that I have harmed or caused offence to.”
The licensing committee chose to suspend Mr Evans of his taxi licence for 21 days.
Read more:
http://www.llanellistar.co.uk/Suspensio ... z3MKzCjgv3
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