Here's a private hire driver with a dilemma, does he return the gifts and risk a prosecution for illegal plying for hire or does he return the presents to the licensing department and hope thats the end of the matter? Perhaps the best solution for him would be to anonymously return the gifts to the Newspaper reception or licensing department and let them deal with it? That way he clears his conscience and the lady gets her gifts back.
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South Wales Echo
October 17, 2007, Wednesday
'Help me find my lost gifts'
A receptionist out celebrating her birthday has lost a pile of presents from relatives after she left them in the boot of a taxi.
Jessica Barnett is pleading for the driver of the car she flagged down at around 1am on the morning of Saturday, October 6to come forward.
She toasted her 30th birthday with friends and family members at the Wharf pub, Schooner Way, Cardiff Bay, into the small hours.
But because she and other family members were having trouble booking a taxi, her group decided to walk to nearby Tyndall Street and flag one down. Two cars stopped for them outside the Etap hotel.
Jessica, who works at an accountancy firm in Whitchurch, Cardiff, said: "I was having a lovely night.
"I got my mum and her partner into the first cab and my fiance and I and another couple got in the second. They put my presents into the boot of the car.
"I was staying the night at my brother's house in Canton and when we got out of the taxi I totally forgot about the bag in the back. It was full of presents and cards I hadn't even opened.
"I was gutted. I didn't open any of them because I thought I would enjoy doing it the following day.
"The presents are of sentimental value and it's put a total dampener on the night."
The car which stopped for Jessica appears to have been a private hire vehicle, which should be pre-booked.
Hackney carriages, which have roof signs and a white bonnet or look like a London taxi style vehicle, can be hailed at the roadside.
Advice on Cardiff council's website says: "If a private hire vehicle stops when hailed it is likely that persons travelling would not be insured."
Jessica, sister Liz, 27, and other relatives have been ringing as many taxi companies as they can think of to track the presents down.
Liz said: "We've spent a week phoning around because my sister is broken hearted."
Jessica, from Whitchurch, Cardiff, but now living in Tredegar, believes the car was a dark-blue Skoda Octavia and the driver was a white man, with blond hair, wearing thick glasses.
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