Taxi Driver Online

Men crash stolen taxi into parked and moving cars

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cglgz5n89xeo

Police have arrested a man in his 30s after two men stole the taxi they had hired and drove it into parked and moving cars.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the white Ford Mondeo taxi driver had picked up the men from Westward Ho! and driven them to the Geneva Court of Bideford at about 16:15 GMT on Sunday.

The men promised payment and went in to a house and, when the taxi driver knocked on the door a little while later, they threatened him and stole the taxi, police said.

The force said they had driven the car away at speed, crashed it into a number of parked cars and were later involved in a crash with two other cars near Rakeham Hill on the A386 between Bideford and Torrington.

Officers arrested a man from the Bideford area at the scene on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving and drink-driving.

They appealed for anyone with information, dashcam or CCTV footage of the events which could help them identify the second suspect to come forward.

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IDFIMH

Isle of Wight man denies stealing taxi and crashing in Devon

https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/2646 ... ing-devon/

An Isle of Wight man has denied stealing a Ford Mondeo taxi and injuring a woman in a three-vehicle crash in Devon last year.

Leon Gladdis, of Nelson Road in Newport, appeared before Exeter Magistrates' Court on Friday, August 7.

The 29-year-old had previously pleaded not guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and causing injury in a road traffic accident.

Police were called at around 4.15pm on October 26 last year following reports that a white Ford Mondeo taxi had been stolen in Bideford.

It is alleged Mr Gladdis was one of two men who travelled in the taxi from Westward Ho! to Geneva Court, near Bideford, before refusing to pay the fare and entering a property.

It is alleged the two men then stole the taxi and collided with several vehicles.

It is alleged the Ford was involved in a crash with two other vehicles near Rakeham Hill, between Bideford and Torrington.

It is also alleged a woman driving a Mitsubishi Colt was injured in the collision, with her vehicle also badly damaged.

At court, Mr Gladdis was remanded in custody.

He is due to appear for a pre-trial review on September 3, ahead of a trial at Exeter Magistrates' Court on September 11.

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IDFIMH

here's hoping for a stiff jail sentence

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

He has suddenly remembered that he did it.

Isle of Wight man stole taxi involved in crash injuring woman

An Isle of Wight man has admitted stealing a taxi which was later involved in a three-vehicle crash in Devon, as well as assaulting two police officers in Ryde.

Leon Gladdis, of Nelson Road in Newport, appeared before the IW Magistrates’ Court on Friday, August 28.

The 29-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty.

He also admitted aggravated vehicle taking, having initially denied the offence when he appeared before the Exeter Law Courts on August 7.

As previously reported by the County Press, Gladdis and another man travelled in a taxi from Westward Ho! to Geneva Court, near Bideford, at around 4pm on October 26 last year.

After the pair refused to pay the fare and entered a property, the taxi driver went to the door and confronted them.

Gladdis and the other man then stole the Ford Mondeo taxi and fled, colliding with several vehicles as they left the area.

A short time later, the stolen taxi was involved in a three-vehicle crash on Rakeham Hill, between Bideford and Torrington.

A woman driving a Mitsubishi Colt involved in the collision was injured, and her vehicle was badly damaged - prompting a police appeal for information.

Gladdis had been due to stand trial on September 11 but will now be sentenced after changing his plea to guilty.

At Friday's hearing, prosecutor Leah Dillon also outlined two further offences committed on July 18.

The court heard Gladdis assaulted two police officers during an incident in Ryde.

Magistrates ordered the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report ahead of sentencing.

Gladdis, who appeared in court from custody, is due to return to magistrates on September 18 for an interim remand hearing ahead of sentencing.

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IDFIMH

Isle of Wight man jailed over stolen taxi crash in Devon

https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/2670 ... ash-devon/



A PROLIFIC driving offender from the Isle of Wight who stole a taxi and later crashed it head-on into another vehicle in Devon leaving a woman injured, has been jailed.

Leon Gladdis, of Nelson Road, Newport, appeared for sentencing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court today (Friday).

The 29-year-old admitted a string of offences linked to the theft of a Ford Mondeo taxi in the West Country last year and to others related to an incident in Newport.

On the day his trial was due to begin in August, Gladdis changed his pleas to guilty for aggravated vehicle taking, driving whilst disqualified, taking a vehicle without consent, driving without due care and attention and driving without insurance.

Taxi driver, Matthew Watson, had picked up Gladdis and another man in Westward Ho! on October 26 last year, and drove them to an address near Bideford.

The pair claimed they needed to collect a credit card from inside the property but failed to return, said Oliver Rolfe, prosecuting.

When Mr Watson went to the door, both men rushed towards him in a threatening manner, one of them allegedly wielding a knife, before getting into his white Ford Mondeo taxi.

The taxi driver heard the doors slam and watched as the vehicle sped away, leaving him stranded.

Hours later, a woman driving home from work in a Mitsubishi Colt, encountered the stolen Mondeo on the wrong side of the road.

The car was heading directly towards her and the vehicles collided head-on.

The woman suffered multiple injuries and was unable to work for several weeks.

The Mondeo was written off.

In a victim statement, Mr Watson described the financial and emotional toll of the incident.

"I feel sick to my stomach. I have been cruelly punished," he said.

"It's cruel how the actions of two people could have such a huge impact on my life."

The court also heard that on July 14 this year, Gladdis took a Nissan Qashqai, that was later found abandoned on Medina Avenue in Newport.

Gladdis has amassed 38 previous convictions for 77 offences, including ten for driving whilst disqualified.

For Gladdis, Oscar Vincent said his client's difficult upbringing, mental health problems and past substance misuse should be considered in mitigation.

Through his barrister, Gladdis said he had "had enough of custody".

Sentencing, Judge Ashworth said Gladdis had been a danger to other road users and noted his extensive criminal record.

Gladdis was jailed for 20 months, banned from driving for 54 months and must pass an extended driving test before regaining his licence.

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IDFIMH