Taxi Driver Online

Carlisle cabbie furious over fare attacker caution


A Carlisle taxi driver claims a drunk who hit him in the face escaped with a caution.

Ian Wildey, a former soldier, says police told him the punishment was given under Home Office guidelines.

The 56-year-old, who has driven cabs for 10 years, said:“If that is right then the guidelines stink.

“They certainly don’t seem to offer much protection to taxi drivers. What sort of deterrent value is there in a caution?

“I was hit in the face through my taxi window, suffering a burst lip and cuts inside the mouth. There was blood everywhere. As far as I’m concerned that is an assault causing actual bodily harm and someone should be taken to court.

“I don’t have an issue with the police if they are following guidelines – but I do have an issue with the system. I think this will be raised with our association.”

Mr Wildey, who lives in Morton, picked up his fare from outside a pub in Botchergate in the early hours of last Monday.

The man, who had been drinking heavily asked to be taken to Thursby – but it was soon clear he had no money to pay the fare.

Mr Wildey stopped at a city centre cash machine to allow the man to withdraw some money but he quickly ran off down West Walls.

When Mr Wildey drove after him, he was verbally abused and then attacked. He immediately informed the police.

He said: “The police arrested the man in Mary Street and I gave a detailed statement and was asked to have my injuries photographed. It wasn’t much later that someone rang and said my attacker had been given a caution in line with Home Office guidelines. I was astounded.”

Inspector Barry Bell, of Cumbria police, said: “We take all incidents of this nature extremely seriously.

“The incident was fully investigated and, following advice sought from the Crown Prosecution Service, a conditional caution was the most appropriate penalty. In coming to this decision the offender’s history and the seriousness of the offence is taken into account.

“As alcohol was a factor in this offence a condition of the offender’s caution will be to attend alcohol assessment meetings to change his behaviour and help prevent this happening again.

“If he fails to attend these meetings he could be brought before the court.”

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Now if that had been a politician or even a policeman or traffic warden the end result would have been completely different.

Regards

JD

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

I think your right JD.

Perhaps we should revisit the many famous first offences over the years and free the culprits, this should come as good news for the likes of Ian Huntly, Peter Sutcliffe, Denis Neilson etc.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

The cops don't see us as members of the public. We're taxi drivers. The lowest form of life on the planet. Oh and btw, I got that little nugget from a cop.

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

the only thing that'll change this type of Scumbag behaviour is another trip to the Pub or the Offys where he can get P*ssed out his head again...though sadly next time it might result in someones death when he lets loose his vile and uncontrollable temper.

It makes you sick to what sad Depths British Justice has sunk to...the only time Judges seem not to suffer from Judicial Impotence is when they spend their spare time at Madam whiplashes correctional Bordello...they all become upright and outstanding members of the British Legal profession there !!!

Maybe we should put Madame Whiplash on the bench

But seriously though I'm fed up of alcohol being the excuse of choice. If people were made to be responsible for their alcohol consumption and the effects of it this may help some way to reducing drink induced crime. It's never going to cure all but then nothing will. It's kind of saying that so long as you're p$$ssed when you commit an offence that's ok, go figure!!

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Your quite right Toots...whether alcohol is the Catalyst in the offence or not they should be held to book in just the same way as whether they were sober or not.....they are not forced to get drunk so the Punishment should be exactly the same, Indeed If anything if drink is involved they should be treated to a harsher punishment....either way the Punishment should reflect the Crime.