Taxi Driver Online

At least police seem to be taking this pretty seriously, if the photos anything to go by


Taxi driver assaulted by two thugs in early hours attack

https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/new ... ur-attack/


Image: Greenock Telegraph

A TAXI driver was brutally assaulted by two thugs on a Greenock street in an early hours attack.

The 62-year-old man was struck on the head and legs with a weapon on Nelson Street, outwith his taxi, at around 4.15am yesterday.

He was rushed to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley for treatment to injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.

Police say the male and female suspect ran off after the incident.

Detectives are treating the incident as a serious assault and are now hunting for the duo.


Image: Greenock Telegraph

Officers and forensics personnel carried out an examination of the scene for several hours after the incident and enquiries are ongoing.

Detective Sergeant Stuart Young of Greenock CID said: "We will be conducting door-to-door inquiries and reviewing CCTV footage.

"We're appealing for any witnesses or anyone who has any information to get in touch."

Anyone with information should call Greenock police on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


Image: Greenock Telegraph

I think that should be word of the day

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Certainly an odd use of the word 'outwith'. Normally it's quite a formal word, and only really used in Scotland, maybe in legislation etc, but not really expected in a newspaper report like that above.

Thought it might actually appear in the taxi licensing legislation, but a quick search suggests it doesn't, but it does appear in this part of the Act about boat hire licenses



I'd generally use it to refer to something geographical, eg outwith Dundee, or outwith the licensing area, so not in the sense used in the report above. But generally only in formal writing or speech, and not everyday conversations, or whatever.


Scottish Twitter users 'shocked' after discovering the word 'outwith' is only used in Scotland

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland- ... r-22881922

The unknown 'Scotticism' was the subject of a debate between one Twitter user and her America and English friends.

This is another reasonably common use of the word. Or, as I said, outwith Scotland, or the UK, or whatever. But don't think the likes of 'outwith the taxi' is common at all



But 'firie' is definitely informal Scots for fireman

Or 'firies', meaning firemen, or 'the firies' meaning the fire service

This one's taken a while


Man and woman charged with attacking Greenock taxi driver

TWO people charged with scarring a Greenock taxi driver for life after allegedly dodging a £10 fare have had their indictment case continued at the sheriff court.

Nicole Bradley and co-accused Jamie McLaughlin assaulted a cabbie on August 1, 2022 by repeatedly striking him on the head and body with a bag containing a blunt object, prosecutors claim.

The driver was left severely injured and permanently disfigured as a result of the alleged attack on Nelson Street, court papers state.

Bradley, 26, and McLaughlin, 24, are also accused of obtaining the hire of a taxi from John Wood Street in Port Glasgow to a property on Nelson Street without paying and intending not to pay the fare of £9.50.

McLaughlin appeared from custody to maintain his not guilty pleas through solicitor Gerry Keenan at Greenock Sheriff Court, while Bradley, represented by Aidan Gallagher, was not present for the latest calling of the case.

Sheriff James Spy continued proceedings to a further first diet hearing scheduled for February 20.

Man's attack on taxi driver left him hospitalised for month

A GREENOCK man has been locked up after he admitted severely injuring a taxi driver in a violent assault which left him hospitalised for almost a month.

Jamie McLaughlin, 25, was due to stand trial before a jury at Greenock Sheriff Court this week but offered a plea of guilty yesterday morning.

He attacked the man on Nelson Street on August 1, 2022, with the incident later sparking a local campaign for a ban on CCTV in taxis to be lifted.

The court heard that McLaughlin struck the driver on the head and body with a bag containing a blunt object, leaving him severely injured.

Nicole Bradley, 27, was also charged with carrying out the assault, but her plea of not guilty was accepted by the Crown.

The pair were passengers in the vehicle which was travelling to an address in Greenock when they requested to be taken to a property in Nelson Street instead.

The driver indicated that this would result in an increased fare, with Ms Bradley noting that she would retrieve the extra money from someone within the close.

A procurator fiscal depute said the taxi driver became ‘suspicious’ that he would not receive the fare and therefore exited the vehicle at the same time as the passengers.

McLaughlin thereafter swung a blue carrier bag containing a ‘solid’ item and struck the man on the forehead.
He then struck the driver’s knee, causing him to fall to the ground.

A neighbour heard the altercation taking place and later found the victim injured outside the building before phoning the police.

The driver was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, where received stitches for a one inch laceration on his forehead.

He also underwent surgery for a knee fracture and remained in hospital for several weeks afterwards.
The court heard that the man has not yet returned to work due to being ‘anxious and fearful’ of a similar incident occurring.

Defence solicitor Gerry Keenan explained that McLaughlin had moved back to Greenock around two or three weeks before the attack.

Mr Keenan said: “He had been working away in Edinburgh. In effect, he had turned his life around.

“He suffered an industrial accident to his hand and as a result was not able to continue.

“He returned to this area. That was not a good decision, but it was a decision he had to make.”

Mr Keenan said his client was impaired through drugs on the evening the incident took place but had ‘some recollection’ of the events.

He added: “They got into the close and the taxi driver remained outside.

“There was a verbal altercation between Mr McLaughlin and the taxi driver.

“Mr McLaughlin stupidly left the close and continued the altercation which became physical.

“He said he does not know where the bag came from. He does not know what was in it.

“Mr McLaughlin regrets what he did to the taxi driver. It all happened very much in the heat of the moment.”

Sheriff Anthony McGeehan described the offence as ‘too serious’ for a non-custodial sentence, noting that McLaughlin already has a ‘significant’ record.

McLaughlin, of Roxburgh Street, was handed a 21-month prison sentence, which was reduced from 24 months as a result of his plea.