Taxi Driver Online

Man banned from using taxi firm for two years after racially abusing driver and trying to set fire to police car

A man who attacked a taxi driver in Taunton and hurled racist abuse at him tried to set fire to a police car when he was arrested. Steven Edney, 49, of East Reach, Taunton, got into an altercation with a Romanian taxi driver after too many people got into his cab.

Prosecuting, Felicity Payne said the taxi driver had been booked and had been waiting for some time, before three men - including Edney - came out to get into the taxi. But when two more tried to pile into the taxi, the driver said he was was unable to take them anywhere because he was over his passenger limit.

During the altercation, Edney told the man: "We are English, you are a foreigner. You have to take us." After the group were turfed out, Edney returned to the taxi driver and tried to pull him out of the car, before slamming the door on his elbow. When police were called, Edney set fire to his hoodie, in the footwell of the car, causing mild scorch and smoke damage.

He admitted a charge of racially aggravated assault, arson and being in breach of a community order when he appeared before Taunton Crown Court this morning. Defending, Simon Jones said his client was living in a hostel and had problems with alcohol and illegal substances, but had 'grown up' since the incident.

Sentencing, Judge David Ticehurst said: "You're 49-years old. You've never done a hard days work in your life. Instead you spend your time in a hostel, taking drugs and drinking. "You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself. You tell your barrister that you have grown up? Racially abusing that taxi driver? Trying to set fire to a police car? That's grown up, is it? I don't think so."

He sentenced him to 10 months in prison for racially aggravated assault, and one month in prison for breaching the community order, to run concurrently. He was also sentenced to 10 months for arson, to run consecutively, making a combined sentence of 20 months in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to pay £55 compensation and was also handed a restraining order banning him from contacting Abbey Cabs for two years.

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IDFIMH

I understand the requirements of a restraining order, but I hope a permanent ban is enforced by the firm itself.

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IDFIMH

If you want to circumvent the law.........just become a lost cause

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.