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HCD charged after bizarre row with Edinburgh Airport CEO
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Author:  StuartW [ Mon May 27, 2019 8:14 am ]
Post subject:  HCD charged after bizarre row with Edinburgh Airport CEO

Suspect driver is on a sticky wicket here, admitting to dropping in a disabled bay and plying for hire at airport, where presumably he doesn't have a permit, thus breaching airport by-laws?

Of course, a lot depends on the precise actions of the airport CEO, but if it's all on CCTV the should be easily resolved.

But as I recall it he's quite a controversial character.


Row with taxi driver ends with Edinburgh Airport boss lying on bonnet of cab

https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport ... -1-4934902

Image
Image: The Scotsman/Lisa Ferguson

A row in front of shocked passengers ended with Edinburgh Airport boss Gordon Dewar lying on the bonnet of a taxi.

Driver Iain Hunter accused Mr Dewar of repeatedly blocking his route while Mr Dewar claims he was run into.

Both men have reported the row last Tuesday outside the terminal to police and officers are investigating.

“He just lay across my bonnet,” said Mr Hunter, 59, from Loanhead near Edinburgh. “I told him he must be off his head. It’s all caught on CCTV.

“He said he was the CEO of Edinburgh Airport and I said,‘You’re Gordon Dewar? What a fool you are.’”

Central Taxis driver Mr Hunter told how he picked up a university student fare for the airport last Tuesday morning shortly after 10am.

“She was obviously going back home after university and she had loads of bags so I dropped her off in the disabled bay because there is nowhere else to park – it’s just a shambles,” he said.

“I got her bags on a trolley and three guys approached me, said they were only going to the Gyle and got in.”

But Mr Dewar is understood to have told police he was walking past and trying to clamp down on taxi drivers “touting” for business.

Rival firms City Cabs and Edinburgh City Private Hire currently both operate the ranks in a joint venture providing transfers to inbound passengers at the airport.

“All of a sudden this guy stuck his head through my window and said I can’t do that. I asked who he was and he said it didn’t matter who he was,” added Mr Hunter.

“I told him I’m a taxi driver and that if he’s an official of the airport he should identify himself.

“He said he was going to take my photo and I told him he’s not allowed to do that – just a photo of my vehicle not me. He said he could do what he wants.

“I went to pull off to the right and he stood in front of me. Then I tried to the left and he did the same. Then he just lay across my bonnet. It’s outrageous what he’s done and he shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it.

“It went on for five or six minutes and he should be embarrassed with himself. He was acting like the big ‘I am’. He’s not allowed to do that, he’s not the police.

“The three guys in the back thought it was all a bit of a laugh at first but you could tell it was getting serious.”

Mr Dewar was unhurt and there was no damage reported to Mr Hunter’s Mercedes cab.

An Edinburgh Airport spokesman said: “This is a matter for Police Scotland.

“We work closely with the police to ensure all drivers adhere to the rules and regulations of operating safely in our Drop Off zone.

“We have recently strengthened this work to crack down on illegal touting and will continue to monitor the area to ensure drivers are operating legally.”

A police spokesman said: “Police in Edinburgh have received two reports relating to an altercation which took place in the Edinburgh Airport Taxi Drop-Off Point on 14 May and enquiries are ongoing.”

Author:  edders23 [ Mon May 27, 2019 12:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Edinburgh Airport CEO "lay on my cab bonnet" in touting

this sounds a bit as if he was set up ;i wouldn't be at all surprised if the 3 men were sent to get in the PH/ hackney ?

Author:  Sussex [ Mon May 27, 2019 3:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Edinburgh Airport CEO "lay on my cab bonnet" in touting

It does go to show how important taxi/PH money is for airports.

Cos if it wasn't important the powers that be wouldn't give a flying f***, and the boss wouldn't be acting in that way.

Author:  StuartW [ Mon May 27, 2019 8:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Edinburgh Airport CEO "lay on my cab bonnet" in touting

Nothing to see here other than that the driver has been charged, but I've missed out the bulk of the article, which is basically a rehash of the stuff above.


Cabbie charged after Edinburgh Airport chief ‘threw himself on taxi bonnet’ in bizarre scuffle in car park

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/4 ... e-charged/

Airport boss Gordon Dewar had allegedly been trying to crack down on cabs touting for business at the airport’s drop-off point

Image
Image: The Scottish Sun

A TAXI driver has been charged by police after a row with Edinburgh Airport boss Gordon Dewar last Tuesday morning.[…]

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 59-year-old man has been charged in connection with an altercation at Edinburgh Airport Taxi Drop-Off Point on 14 May.

“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport said: “This is a matter for Police Scotland.

“We work closely with the police to ensure all drivers adhere to the rules and regulations of operating safely in our Drop Off zone.

“We have recently strengthened this work to crack down on illegal touting and will continue to monitor the area to ensure drivers are operating legally.”

Image
Image: The Scottish Sun

Author:  StuartW [ Mon May 27, 2019 10:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: HCD charged after bizarre row with Edinburgh Airport CEO

The Scotsman piece at the top of the page seems to have been pulled, as has a slightly different version of the article on the Edinburgh Evening News website (which is part of the Scotsman group).

Presumably some legal issue or other going on here 8-[

Author:  StuartW [ Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: HCD charged after bizarre row with Edinburgh Airport CEO

Taxi driver walks free after 'bizarre' confrontation with Edinburgh Airport chief

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/ed ... e-17700738

Iain Hunter, 60, struck Edinburgh Airport's Chief Executive with his taxi following a confrontation in the car park last May

An Edinburgh taxi driver has walked free, following a "bizarre" confrontation with an Edinburgh Airport boss.

Iain Hunter, 60, was called to appear in court following an incident that took place last May involving Edinburgh Airport's Chief Executive, Gordon Dewar.

The court heard how Mr Dewar “sprinted” the entire length of the airport car park to confront Mr Hunter, who was allegedly parked in a prohibited area.

Mr Dewar is said to have then sat on the bonnet of Mr Hunter’s car and began videoing the cabbie's licence plates.

According to the defence, the taxi driver became concerned for his safety, prompting him to attempt to drive away from the scene.

Sheriff Flinn heard how Mr Hunter started driving “slowly” towards Mr Dewar and then struck him - but didn’t cause him any injuries.

Following the incident, Mr Hunter allegedly called Mr Dewar a “p***k” and drove off.

Defence solicitor Paul Dunne insisted that the incident would not have happened were it not for Mr Dewar's "bizarre behaviour".

He said: “This incident would not have occurred if it wasn’t for the bizarre behaviour of Mr Dewar. His behaviour caused the entire incident to escalate out of control.

“I would ask your lordship to deal with this matter by way of absolute discharge. He has no previous convictions and no outstanding cases.

“If the matter cannot be dealt by way of absolute discharge then Mr Hunter will have to appear before the taxi licensing committee of Edinburgh City Council.”

“His vehicle has slight contact but not so much as to cause Mr Dewar to take a step back. It is the merest of touches”, he said.

Mr Dunne said that if Mr Dewar was concerned that the taxi driver was parked in a prohibited area, he could have check CCTV cameras to establish his identity.

He added: “None of this would have taken place if it were not for a chief executive who it would appear has nothing better to do than to enforce taxi parking regulations.

“I think it is fair to say that none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for Mr Dewar’s behaviour.”

Mr Dunne also raised concerns after police and the Crown weren’t able to disclose CCTV footage of the full incident, stating that no footage recovered captured the entire confrontation.

Mr Dunne added: “I find it impossible to believe that there’s not a square inch of Edinburgh Airport not covered by CCTV.

“It seems a little odd.”

While Mr Hunter pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace charge, Sheriff Flinn granted him absolute discharge - enabling him to continue work as a taxi driver as he will not have a criminal record.

Author:  StuartW [ Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: HCD charged after bizarre row with Edinburgh Airport CEO

Quote:
While Mr Hunter pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace charge, Sheriff Flinn granted him absolute discharge - enabling him to continue work as a taxi driver as he will not have a criminal record.

All very odd this. Odd circumstances, odd that no CCTV evidence from airport, odd that the driver pleaded guilty but was given absolute discharge due to the licensing aspect.

Odd particularly in the latter regard that the assumption seems to have been that if he'd been sentenced in some way then he'd have lost his badge, but that now he'll definitely keep his badge. Neither of which seemed cut and dried, presumably, unless he's been told in advance that his badge would depend on what the criminal court decided.

Which would seem to be a case of the licensing committee 'fettering its discretion', or whatever.

As I said, odd :-s

Author:  edders23 [ Fri Feb 07, 2020 11:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: HCD charged after bizarre row with Edinburgh Airport CEO

The airport CEO was behaving like like a complete P*i^k so I think the courts have realised this and common sense prevailed

I think the shareholders in the airport should be questioning whether he should continue in that role :wink:

Author:  Sussex [ Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: HCD charged after bizarre row with Edinburgh Airport CEO

Quote:
Odd particularly in the latter regard that the assumption seems to have been that if he'd been sentenced in some way then he'd have lost his badge, but that now he'll definitely keep his badge. Neither of which seemed cut and dried, presumably, unless he's been told in advance that his badge would depend on what the criminal court decided.

Very odd.

Drivers lose their licenses all the time without going to court.

Author:  StuartW [ Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: HCD charged after bizarre row with Edinburgh Airport CEO

Maybe some crossed wires between the driver, his lawyer and the council, but perhaps it's been suggested that his badge would depend on the trial outcome.

Or maybe his lawyer just spinning a line for the court.

Or maybe his lawyer a bit clueless about licensing matters.

Possibly all three above are factors, to a greater or lesser extent.

Author:  Sussex [ Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: HCD charged after bizarre row with Edinburgh Airport CEO

Quote:
Maybe some crossed wires between the driver, his lawyer and the council, but perhaps it's been suggested that his badge would depend on the trial outcome.

Or maybe his lawyer just spinning a line for the court.

Or maybe his lawyer a bit clueless about licensing matters.

Possibly all three above are factors, to a greater or lesser extent.

Maybe all three, but defo the last two.

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