Before anyone accuses me of rampant sexism/misogyny/ableism, or whatever, the 'larger lady' used in the thread title is the description used by the lady herself
Disabled Scots woman who got stuck in taxi claims driver said 'check the state of you'https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scot ... g-23203624Amanda Aitken, 45, says she felt humiliated as a crowd gathered outside a supermarket when she got stuck in the back of a taxi.
Image: Paisley Daily Express/Daily RecordA cabbie has been accused of ridiculing a disabled passenger after she got stuck in the back of his taxi.
As she struggled after lying down on the seat to try and ease herself out, she insists he told her: “Oh, for f***’s sake ... check the state of you.”
Amanda Aitken, 45, felt humiliated as a crowd gathered outside a supermarket as the astonishing scene unfolded.
Devastated Amanda said people “were laughing” as they witnessed the spectacle at the front of the Morrisons store at Anchor Mills, in Paisley.
The support worker - currently suffering chronic back pain - blasted the driver’s attitude.
Now she is demanding a full apology from Renfrewshire Cab Co as she says she has repeatedly asked them to pick her up in bigger vehicles.
She said: “I am a larger lady and when I saw a small black car arrive for me my heart sank.
“When it pulled up, I noticed the car was quite narrow and I asked the driver to put his seat forward and he said he couldn’t. I said I didn’t think I would be able to get in and he replied it would be the first time that had happened.
“I told him I had back problems, but managed to get in at a push.
“When we arrived at Morrisons I just couldn’t get out. I had opened the door and lay across the back seat. The driver turned round and said ‘what are you doing’.
“I told him I was trying to get out and he said ‘oh for f***’s sake.' Then he said ‘check the state of you.’ It was very distressing.”
She finally managed to scramble out, but banged her leg in the process.
Amanda does not drive and, with her mobility problems, is relying on taxis. She also suffered blood clots on her lungs and left her workplace in Glasgow in March.
The cab – a Peugeot 2008 – had picked up Amanda and her sister Sarah outside Gabriels pub in Gauze Street on Tuesday.
The sisters had just got off the bus from Renfrew after attending a slimming class.
The fare for the short journey to Morrisons at Anchor Mills was just £3.50.
But Amanda, who lives in Paisley’s west end, revealed: “Despite what happened, I even rounded the fare up to £4 so the driver got a 50p tip.
“He certainly didn’t deserve anything as I just wanted to get out of there.”
Amanda’s partner Brian Neary said the incident has had a huge impact on her.
Bryan, 32, said: “She suffers from depression and anxiety attacks and this was a real kick in the teeth for her.
“This has really brought her down and she feels very low. I honestly cannot believe how this driver could treat her - or anybody - like that.”
Amanda’s back pain was exacerbated in Blackpool in October when she fell out of her motability scooter. The machine then fell on top of her, causing extensive bruising.
She says she spoke to the Paisley-based Renfrewshire Cab Co after the incident and felt they were “not very sympathetic”.
Amanda added: “They had said there was a message on their system that flagged up I needed a bigger car, but obviously that did not happen.”
Renfrewshire Cab Co - which has up to 500 drivers - promised to contact Amanda to offer a full apology.
A spokesman said: “The customer needed a high-sided vehicle for her physical requirements and a normal saloon car arrived.
“She went to sit in the front seat but under the current situation drivers are entitled not to have anyone in the front seat.
“She did have trouble getting out the car but the driver denies ridiculing her. In future she will always be sent a high-sided vehicle.
“We want to look after all our customers.”
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