from BBC news website hence sensationalist title and gatuitous usde of images which have little or nothing to do with the story
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce81eg0d897o
A disabled woman said she was left “terrified” after a taxi driver attempted to charge her extra for her mobility scooter and then allegedly “attacked” her.
Elanor Maxey, 32, said her left arm was "slammed " into a door and her right arm was "dislocated" after the driver “lost his temper”.
The driver told the BBC, this "didn't happen" and he didn't overcharge her or attack her.
Royal Taxis, in Spalding, Lincolnshire, who contracted the driver, said they take "complaints very seriously and had not been contacted by the customer".
A zoomed picture of Elanor Maxey's upper right arm. Her skin is swollen and has a purple bruise. The bruise is dappled with shades of black, dark red and yellow.
Image source,Elanor Maxey
Ms Maxey has said she is still receiving treatment for the injury
Ms Maxey shared the footage of the alleged attack on her social media accounts, which the BBC has seen, and reported it to the police.
Lincolnshire Police confirmed it was investigating the incident.
Ms Maxey said on 6 June after a Royal Taxi dropped her off at Spalding Station, the driver attempted to charge her extra for her mobility scooter.
"He was towering over me, he was trying to intimidate me,” she said.
After a disagreement about the fee, Ms Maxey alleged the driver attempted to steal her scooter's battery pack.
"The scooter is my lifeline, I was terrified I'd be left trapped," she added.
"The man tried to attack me when he took the battery and I wouldn't let him."
She said she grabbed the battery from the car and at this point her left arm was "slammed" into the door.
"I began recording on my phone, I wanted proof," she said.
She claimed that when the driver realised he was being recorded, he attempted to grab the phone.
"My joints dislocate easily, so when he grabbed my hand, it dislocated my right arm," she said.
Genie is a grey assistance dog wearing an orange hi-vis vest, she is lying on wooden decking.
Ms Maxey says discrimination against disability "must end"
A law change in 2017 , externalsaw the introduction of a £1,000 fine for taxi drivers if they "refuse to transport wheelchair users or attempt to charge them extra".
Ms Maxey said the vehicle was a hackney cab licensed through South Holland District Council.
It is understood that the taxi was therefore subject to the South Holland District Council's Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, external which states licensed drivers "must ensure that no extra charges are applied for conveying persons with disabilities".
A blue 'Stand for taxis' sign can be seen with a sign added to the top of it which says 'No stopping at any time except taxis'
Image source,Sarah-May Buccieri
especially for stuart
South Holland District Council said they were "troubled to hear about the experience this individual has had"
Councillor Anthony Casson, portfolio holder for public protection said: “Unfortunately the individual has not provided any detail or evidence to support her claim, preventing us from carrying out an investigation.
“We treat all matters of overcharging, discrimination or other improper behaviour by licensed taxi drivers very seriously in South Holland.
“But without the relevant information the Council has no ability to carry out the necessary investigation."
However, Ms Maxey said she had “repeatedly asked for a face to face appointment” as her disability makes email correspondence difficult.
Ms Maxey said she now feared getting another taxi, and her assistance dog had also been affected by the incident.
"We're having to reassure her and retrain her because the taxi driver was so aggressive," she said.
"Discrimination happens too often, it must stop," she added.
This is Royal taxis we are talking about so I'm not convinced about their denials
