Taxi Driver Online

Axed gangland taxi boss bids to take firm he used to own to tribunal
Feb 6 2011 Exclusive by Norman Silvester, Sunday Mail

A GANGLAND private hire boss claimed he was unfairly sacked by the firm he once owned.

James Baxter, 50, lodged an unfair dismissal claim against Network Private Hire after being apparently forced out by new owner John Cassidy, 49.

Network claimed Baxter was axed when his underworld links were revealed in a police dossier handed to Network bosses and Glasgow City Council licensing chiefs.

At the licensing hearing last April, Network said that major shareholder Baxter sold his stake in the firm to Cassidy for £345,000 in 2009.

But they admitted that he was still owed £170,000 of the sale price and was also pocketing £3200-a-month as a "handyman".

Police chiefs had used Baxter's links to the firm to deny it a vital base operating license.

He has 10 previous convictions including a pub assault which saw him jailed for 18 months in 1996.

Police also alleged that he had been involved in incidents including a nightclub shooting and witness intimidation.

Baxter's departure from Network led to pol ice dropping their objections to the firm.

Now in the latest twist to the long-running saga, we can reveal that Baxter lodged an unfair dismissal claim.

However, he dropped his case before any evidence was heard at a tribunal.

One source said: "It's incredible that a man like Baxter would consider an employment tribunal."

Network were exposed by the Sunday Mail seven years ago when they were raided during a money laundering probe into the McGovern crime clan.

The firm's then owners sold it to Baxter who in turn offloaded it to Cassidy.

Baxter, from Dalmarnock, Glasgow, had lodged claims of unfair dismissal and breach of contract against the company as well as a complaint that he was not paid for annual leave.

Baxter, who is the owner of a signif icant property portfolio, remained in the shadows during and after his time at Network.

But the Sunday Mail unmasked him last October after he attended the trial of Harry Dow at Hami lton SheriffCourt.

Dow was accused of savagely attacking Baxter's pal, conman Alexander Clark, 45.

Dow, 49, walked free from court after prosecutors had to drop the case.

Network has 80 staff, 700 drivers and carries more than 3.5mi l l ion passengers a year.

In December 2009 they were awarded a £2million-ayear patient transpor t contract from NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde despite police objections.

That prompted Cassidy to complain his firm were being "victimised" by police.

A Network spokesman said: "Mr Baxter raised employment proceedings which have concluded."

Didn't think that mob sorted things out in court.

Or maybe it's just a charade.

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IDFIMH

Whoooppeeee! And he was a threat to public safety how exactly?

Remids me of the old joke, what happens when a pope dies? Up popes another.

Personally I'm more concerned with the scumbags running taxi companies who are allowed to steal my opportunity to compete against them.

I'd never heard of this guy. But I am aware of the corruption in the taxi trade and the council. And cops who breach civil rights as the instrument of oppression.