Taxi Driver Online

Women's terror after Sheffield taxi driver 'kidnapped them' on night out



Three friends have revealed their terror after they were allegedly locked in a taxi by a driver.

The trio claim the driver refused to take them to a cash point so they could withdraw money and pay for their fare.

The women, who are all 24 and did not want to be named, said they got into a black 'Hackney Carriage' cab in Sheffield city centre on Friday night.

However, en route, the women claim they were "kidnapped" by the driver with the trio claiming the driver assured them that he would take a card payment to pay for the fare.

They say that when they arrived at their destination the driver allegedly changed his mind and decided he would need cash.

The women then claimed they had a discussion with the driver before he allegedly got angry and locked the doors.

One of the friends said: "We tried to open the doors and windows but he wouldn't let us out, but he refused to let us go. We literally begged to be let out."

The driver allegedly then started driving with no word of where he was going which resulted in one of them having a "panic attack in the vehicle."

The women resorted to ringing 999, with the driver of the taxi taking the young women to the police station in Sheffield.

One claimed the driver "stopped being abrupt at this point and completely changed his attitude".

On arrival to the police station, there were six officers stood outside. The women claimed to have waved them over with the driver then allegedly unlocking the doors at this point.

The women said: "The driver told the police that we hadn't paid, which wasn't the case."

The women claim there was no care for their wellbeing or safety and said the whole situation was "intimidating", with one of them adding: "He kidnapped us and got away with it".

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IDFIMH

In the cold light of day we can say the driver should have done this or should have done that.

But in that same cold light of day I don't believe a single word of what the punters say.

They had no money, I suspect the cards didn't work and they are now trying to blame the driver for their attempted fraudulent taxi ride.

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IDFIMH

Almost 20 hours since the article was published, but only four comments on the Examiner's website (had a look to see if they disclosed anything that might have shed some light on the incident).

But they're all quite supportive of the driver, or at least they simply don't believe the women's version of events.

Which is quite surprising on the one hand. But, on the other, I'd put my money on the contributors here being in the trade, or at least very close to it.





Of course, possible problem with the suggested scenario at the end is that if they're trying to get out, and he's detaining them by locking the doors, does it make any difference if he drives them to the police station, or if he's stationary and calls the police?