Taxi Driver Online

You recall some time ago TDO reported the incident at Manchester Airport which involved a fracas between a Chorley Councillor and a taxi marshal? Well if you read the recent incident of Bolton Councillors making a fracas at a local pub and trying to pressurise the pub staff into serving them drinks after time then you might just come to the conclusion that both Bolton and Chorley councils have some unsavoury individuals as councillors? In this case the councillor was found not guilty but his partner pleaded guilty, however it still leaves an unsavoury taste in my mouth at least.

Read on.
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June 11, 2007 Monday

HEADLINE: Shamed councillor bound over

BYLINE: Gordon McCully

DATELINE: Chorley Citizen

A former Tory councillor was bound over today to keep the peace for his involvement in a racially motivated attack on a cabbie.

Businessman Shaun Smith, 38, had arrived at Manchester Airport with partner Amanda Ahlgreen, 39, when she became involved in a fracas at the taxi rank.

Smith arrived on the scene and after a brief row, the police were called and he and estate agent Ahlgreen were arrested.

Smith, of Trigg Lane, Chorley, was bound over to keep the peace for 12 months.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Mr Recorder Driver told Smith: "You became involved in a shameful incident of disorder on that night.

"You now know, even if you didn't know it then, your partner had committed a criminal offence against members of the public shortly before you became involved.

"In the circumstances I am prepared to bind you over for 12 months."

Charges of racially aggravated harassment, assault by beating and racially aggravated assault by beating against Smith were ordered to lie on file.

Ahlgreen admitted one count of racially aggravated harassment.

Earlier the court heard the incident occurred in June last year when Smith, who represents Wheelton and Withnell now as an independent councillor, and Ahlgreen returned to Manchester Airport following a holiday together.

They left the arrivals lounge with their luggage and went to wait in the taxi queue outside the airport.

Once there Ahlgreen entered into an argument with the man in charge of the taxi rank and she made comment of a racist nature.

Smith entered the row shortly afterwards.

Defending Smith, Keith Harrison said: "He was not present when Ahlgreen made the most offensive comments.

"He does accept he became involved in the incident to a certain extent but he was not present when Ahlgreen made the most offensive comments."

Defending Ahlgreen, Patrick Buckley said: "In a moment of madness she let slip remarks that were deeply offensive - she deeply regrets them.

"There has been no repetition since or no incident before this. It was one moment in time."

Granting her unconditional bail, Mr Recorder Driver said: "You pleaded guilty to a serious offence and the judge who sentences you will have the full range of sentencing options available to him."

Former Tory Smith was elected to the council in 2004 with a majority of 256. Ahlgreen will be sentenced on July 2.
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And that's the kind of folks that decide our future.

Can you imagine the grief a driver would get from them if they did half what was allegded in this instance?

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IDFIMH