Taxi Driver Online

Remember all those articles from Lancashire that use the word 'rank' to refer to an 'office'

Well this one does that, but also calls it a 'taxi shop'

Apart from that, if you're wondering why an office needs a 'security guard' on duty at 9.30am...


Homeless man hit PCSO in back at taxi shop in Blackburn

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/n ... blackburn/


Image: Lancashire Telegraph

A homeless man and prolific offender hit a PCSO in the back after trying to calm down a man at a town centre taxi office, a court has heard.

Russell Summers, 56, had originally been trying to diffuse a situation when he became aggressive himself.

Prosecuting, Mercedeh Jabbari told Preston Crown Court how at about 9.30am on May 6, 2021, a security guard at Arcade Taxis in Darwen Street, Blackburn, was trying to move on a group of rough sleepers from outside the rank.

A man named Mr Hargreaves began to get aggressive, punching the coffee machines and hitting his head against the window before being pulled out by a group, including Summers, who were trying to calm him down.

When they got outside, Summers started to get aggressive, making threats to smash up the firm’s taxis if he saw them on the street.

The police arrived, including PCSO Niall Webster, and were putting Mr Hargreaves in handcuffs, with Summers continuing to act aggressively.

He then pushed Mr Webster in the back while they were attempting to detain Mr Hargreaves, however, Summers then ended up in handcuffs himself and was taken to the police station.

When questioned he denied the offence, saying he was merely trying to get the officer's attention by tapping him on the shoulder to ‘try and calm down the matter’.

Offering mitigation, Clare Thomas said Summers was trying to get his life on track and he had not been in trouble with the police since last year.

He pleaded not guilty to the assault of an emergency service worker but later pleaded guilty to common assault.

Ms Thomas said: “He is homeless. This offence arose when he was in a taxi shop getting a drink because he was homeless.

“It’s clear it wasn’t an incident he started, and he was trying to help.

“He bitterly regrets his involvement. He is really trying to put that kind of behaviour in the past.”

Recorder Daniel Prowse handed Summers a conditional discharge of six months.

He said: “This was a relatively low-level incident but the police should never be subject to acts of violence.

“It’s their job to be responding to people like Mr Hargreaves, they must not be subject to abuse or assault.”

He was possibly part of one of the bigger security firms that operate mobile response.

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