Mum calls out taxi driver after abandoning daughter miles from home at 3.30amThe girl had been returning from a night out in Cheltenham when she realised she did not have enough for the full journey back to her house in Bishop's Cleeve.
A mother has slammed the actions of a taxi driver who abandoned her 18-year-old daughter on the side of the road in the early hours of the morning, miles from home.
The girl had been returning from a night out in Cheltenham when she realised she did not have enough for the full journey back to her house in Bishop's Cleeve.
But instead of collecting the money from her parents, or asking for collateral and to be paid the next day, the driver ordered her out into the freezing conditions at 3.30am on Sunday.
She was dumped on the roadside on her own by GE Aviation, meaning a 25-minute walk to her home through the streets in the cold January night when it was just three degrees. The girl gave the driver £12, which was all she had on her.
Fortunately she made it back safely but her mother Chris, who waited up for her, said she was furious – especially after finding out the driver continued on to Bishop's Cleeve after abandoning her child.
"I told her off, asked her why on earth she did that," she said.
"She told me she had not wanted to worry me as I am quite ill at the moment. I would have waited till I got home and said I needed money from inside but she is very honest and told him upfront.
"But it was crap what he did. It's just not good enough in this day and age to leave an 18-year-old girl on the side of the street in the middle of the night."
"There were much better ways of dealing with it. Obviously he had better things to do."
The teenager, who wants to remain anonymous, did not name the taxi company involved but Chris raised it with Cheltenham Guardians, a volunteer patrol charity looking to help people in trouble when on nights out.
She added: "If I could talk to this driver face to face I would just say I know it's your living but you could have asked for something to take and we would pay you tomorrow.
"All he had to do was make sure she got in and he would have been paid.
"Anything could have happened."
Cheltenham Guardian spokesman Terry Howard said it was a very worrying incident.
"We are not currently aware of all of the facts but if this is proven to be correct it is of great concern," he said.
"We have forwarded the concerned parent the contact details of the relevant officer at Cheltenham Borough Council.
"We strongly encourage taxi drivers to seek recompense for shortage of fare after the potentially vulnerable passenger returned safely home and not to abandon them at the roadside.
"Between 11pm and 7am we encourage all taxi drivers to call Cheltenham Guardians on 07473 231741 if there is such an issue, we may be in a position to help."
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