Perth woman fined for tirade of drunk and racist abuse in taxiA festive reveller screamed racist abuse at a taxi driver after forcing him to make a 15-mile round trip.
Alison Crowe admitted shouting, swearing and calling Ghulam Jelani an offensive name at Perth’s North Methven Street in the early hours of January 5.
Perth Sheriff Court heard that the hotel worker had been enjoying a belated Christmas night out and had consumed a quantity of alcohol.
She asked Mr Jelani to take her to an address in Stanley but, on arrival, she was unable to access her purse and, concerned, he took her back to the Loft nightclub, to her friends.
She fell asleep on the return journey and abused Mr Jelani upon being woken.
Depute fiscal Carol Whyte said: “Mr Jelani is a taxi driver. The accused got into his taxi at about 12.30am and asked to be taken to an address in Stanley.
“She fell asleep on the journey and when they arrived Mr Jelani got out of the car and advised her of this. The accused was unable to get out of the taxi or get into her handbag to pay her fare.
“Because of that, and because he was concerned, Mr Jelani took her back to Perth to the Loft nightclub because she said her friends were there.”
On arrival Mr Jelani was forced to wake her a second time.
Ms Whyte continued: “The accused then became verbally abusive to Mr Jelani. She began to shout and swear and refused to pay the taxi fare.
“As a result, Mr Jelani started to drive towards Perth police station. On the way he was able to flag down a passing police car.”
She added that officers were able to hear Crowe’s tirade of abuse as she sat in the taxi.
Mike Tavendale, defending, said that due to her drunken state and the fact she had fallen asleep, Crowe may have believed she was being asked for a fare for a journey that had not taken place.
He added that she was deeply apologetic for her behaviour, despite having no recollection of it.
Sheriff Fiona Tait fined Crowe, 49, of Mill Street, Perth, £700.
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/ ... i-1.772072
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