Taxi Driver Online

Former taxi firm owner broke Blackpool cab's windscreen

https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news ... -1-9800522

A former taxi firm owner broke the windscreen of a cab while he was on holiday in Blackpool.

Neil Gallagher, 38, of Compass Street, Swansea, pleaded guilty to causing damage.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £330 compensation towards the cost of the windscreen and the driver’s lost earnings.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said a taxi picked up Gallagher and his wife outside Blackpool Pleasure Beach ice arena on May 6 at 12.25am.

Gallagher asked to go to a cash point then a kebab house where he and his wife would eat and wanted the cabbie to wait for them and then take them to their hotel.

The driver said it was a very busy time and he would not be able to wait while the couple ate.

Gallagher told him: “I own a taxi company in Wales and you will do this as I’m paying.”

The driver refused and Gallagher got out and hit the windscreen shattering it. The cabbie said he lost earnings as he could not drive the taxi that night or the next which was a bank holiday because he could not get his vehicle repaired.

Robert Castle, defending, said his client had had a taxi company in Wales but it had failed.

Gallagher’s mental health had been affected by that and he had had a nervous breakdown earlier this year.

He and his wife had come to Blackpool for a few days break to get away from it all. Gallagher felt the cabbie had a legally obliged to take them.

In frustration he slapped the windscreen, not intending to damage it.

HC or PH if it was a HC he might be needing to explain his refusal to the LO

total over reaction from passenger though no excuses

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

Reads like they were eating in though, so maybe not that unreasonable to refuse? Who knows how long it would take them, and doesn't seem reasonable to compel the driver to wait an hour or two, when he could be due to finish his shift, or whatever.

Of course, it may have just been a takeaway, and misreported.

What a toss pot.

_________________
IDFIMH

There's a shock.

Surely couldn't have been his pleasant manner.

_________________
IDFIMH

Not sure this has ever been tested in court, but IMO if he was a hackney then he couldn't refuse to take the punter to the kebab shop, without reasonable excuse, but can refuse to wait for them to finish their food.

_________________
IDFIMH