Taxi Driver Online

Private hire driver’s jail threat


A private hire driver has been given a suspended jail sentence after a court heard he drove after a fare dodger and clipped him on the pavement with his car.

Asim Iltaf had been distracted by other people trying to get into his vehicle when he pulled up outside the Old Griffin Head Inn at Gildersome, Leeds to drop the man off in January last year.

As he tried to explain the situation to them, his fare in the front passenger seat jumped out and jogged off without paying the £9.60 due.

Andrew Dallas representing Iltaf said his instinctive reaction was to follow and it was only for a few seconds before he caught him.

He said: “He had no intention of running him down, he had not thought it through at all. It was four seconds of driving at a maximum of 12.5mph.”

He added that the life of a private hire driver was not a happy one with drunken passengers and fare dodgers but Iltaf had been doing it successfully for 10 years.

Louise Reevell prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday that Iltaf had already started to brake when he caught the passenger, but had two wheels on the pavement which constituted the offence.

The passenger was later found to have a broken arm, but he had been drinking heavily and was seen on CCTV to fall over a short time later when he clambered over a wall and picnic tables so the arm injury could not be attributed to the incident with the car.

Iltaf, 37, of North Park Street, Dewsbury, admitted dangerous driving and was given a six months prison sentence suspended for 12 months with 150 hours unpaid work and £300 prosecution costs. He was also banned from driving for 15 months.

Judge Christopher Batty said in the 10 years Iltaf had been a private hire driver, his driving had never been criticised and employers had given him references.

The judge said: “I accept on this occasion you acted instinctively but what you did was drive on the pavement putting this man at a significant risk and that is a serious matter.”

He added that when he realised there might be a collision, Iltaf had sought to stop but could not do so in time.

The court was told Iltaf now has a job in a textile mill.

source: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... -1-5577102

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

6 months suspended jail, 150 hours CS...15 months driving ban-he has been deprived of his living and possible break up of his family if he cannot support them! For what-chasing a drunken lout that was evading payment-THE PUNISHMENT DOES NOT FIT THE CRIME!! BUT ITS WHAT OUR TRADES HAVE COME TO EXPECT OF AN UNCARING JUDICIARY! Betcha the poor guy cannot afford to appeal either

The court was told Iltaf now has a job in a textile mill.

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Whoopie! everything's OK then! I was just thinking if a disabled mobility scooter was to chase and run over a chap who had just robbed a bank what the outcome would be?