Taxi Driver Online

16 Feb 2008

Cabbie could lose licence for passenger attack

A TAXI driver faces losing his professional licence for fracturing a female
passenger's cheekbone during an argument over a fare.

Zaheer Babar, 41, was given a suspended sentence when he admitted
attacking Sophia Van Riemsdyk with a metal pole when they got into a
dispute over money.

Alexandra Bull, prosecuting at Northampton Crown Court, said Miss Van
Riemsdyk had been on a night out with friends at Crush in Northampton
town centre on Tuesday, February 27, last year.

At the end of the evening, they got into Babar’s taxi and were taken to St
Edmunds Road, near the Crown and Anchor pub.

Miss Bull said: “Miss Van Riemsdyk said she needed to get some money
from her car to pay the fare.

“Babar, and it’s not in dispute it was him, also got out of the cab and said
he wanted the rest of his money.

“When she explained she could not find her car keys, after a few moments
he drove off and left them standing on the pavement.

“The Crown says within minutes, the taxi returned and this time he had
another male with him. They then approached the group and asked for the
rest of his money.

“She saw him take a step back, raise his hand and she then felt something
cold and long strike the left side of her face and she fell to the ground.”

Babar then drove off, leaving his victim with bruising and a fractured
cheekbone, and went to the police station where he claimed the women
had attacked him.

Miss Bull said: “He said one of the girls had jumped in the car and another
had kicked him in the stomach so he had pushed her back on to the pavement.”

Having denied wounding with intent, the trial began, but Babar then
admitted wounding, which was accepted by the prosecution and the jury
was discharged.

Judge Charles Wide QC sentenced Babar, of Russett Drive, Little Billing, to
nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year, with 100 hours’
community service and £795 costs.

A spokesman for Northampton Borough Council said: “The decision to
suspend or revoke a taxi driver’s licence following a conviction is
determined on a case by case basis.

“In cases of violence, the Government’s guidelines state a firm line should
be taken.

“If a driver is convicted of violence, they will be called to appear before
the licensing committee who will decide whether to revoke the licence.”

Source: Northampton Chronicle & Echo

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bit of a no-brainer IMO

How proffessional is this the way new comers act, well we dont what them...go home

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FORUMS ARE A GOOD PLACE TO LET OFF STEAM ! DONT TAKE LIFE TO SERIOUSLY ..

Who leaves money in their car and the girl conveniently couldn't find her keys? I wonder how much of the fare was outstanding?



It appears the driver was more than a little irate and I can understand his frustration but I can't understand why he chose to hit one of the girls with an iron bar?

I suppose the discussion we had recently about weapons of self defence is highlighted by the other side of the coin in this particular incident where such weapons can not only be used for self defence but also as a means of attack. I suppose that is why they are banned.

If this driver gets his license back I shall be very surprised.

Regards

JD

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Hitting anyone let alone a female with an iron bar because of a row over a fare is wrong.
Why did he hit a girl?, part of his culture, the asian and turkish drivers in my office treat women passengers like absolute sh*t.
That is my own personal experience.

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stressed controller!!!

You are right about the culture but female subservience is prevalent in practically every Muslim society and I suspect some other societies too.

To most indigenous Brits hitting a woman with an iron bar is probably incomprehensible. I'm sure everyone on here reading this story is somewhat puzzled at the actions of this driver no matter what he was owed?

I doubt he will get his license back in which case he has lost far more than the few pounds he lost out on from this fare?

He can't plead provocation because his actions were pre meditated, he went away and came back with an iron bar. lol Then he hit the woman and ran away. He can't plead self defence therefore he's going to have a fight on his hands for the rest of his life to try and get his license back.

Foolish isn't a strong enough word to describe the actions of this person.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Why dont you get something done about them, there is no room for this type of behavior, if I was a controller i would not send them for a woman or women if thats there attitude

Easier said than done skippy. 99% of my drivers are turkish or asian, boss is not interested, he only wants the rent money, ive worked in 3 cab offices, and, I am sorry to say, they are all the same. It's one of the reasons I have such a low opinion of the drivers.

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stressed controller!!!

Why don't you join the GMB PDB and try to do something about it then?

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Our safety is Paramount

Now they need to hit each other over the head!