This is an extrodinary read, but have a butchers.
I add a screen grab to show the maths.
Read the full story : https://goo.gl/4bPWei
-------------------------------------------
LIVERPOOL
A taxi driver who knocked down an 88-year-old woman has been spared jail after she asked for him not to be punished on her death bed.
Mary Johnson forgave Ronald Singleton, 62, for the careless driving which led to her death.
The private hire driver hit the 88-year-old when he failed to see her crossing Ullet Road in Liverpool on March 13 last year.
The Liverpool Echo reports Judge Alan Conrad, QC, said: “This is a tragic case. Ms Johnson was truly a remarkable lady.
“Even when injured by the defendant’s driving, her thoughts were not of herself, but of the defendant, for whose livelihood she was concerned.
Read more: Double death driver smashed into wall and fled as pals burned in wreckage
“She was from a generation who faced adversity and setbacks with courage and fortitude. We can learn a lesson from her stoicism and dignity.
“She clearly would not have wanted this defendant to go to prison. Although wishes of victims cannot influence sentencing, in this case it would be wrong to ignore them."
Liverpool Crown Court heard the incident happened at around midday, when Singleton, of East Prescot Road, Dovecot, was in his Peugeot 406.
A rear-seat passenger said the dad-of-two was driving safely and she had no concerns as he slowed to approach the junction and turn right.
Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, said cars heading in the opposite direction along Ullet Road stopped to allow Ms Johnson to cross, with the help of a walking aid.
The passenger could “clearly” see Ms Johnson but she believed Singleton did not see her in the middle of the road, less than six metres away.
After the crash he stopped his car, got out and was heard to say “you stepped out” before police and an ambulance were called.
Ms Johnson suffered serious leg injuries and contracted an infection in hospital before dying of multiple organ failure on April 10.
Pathologists said the crash and surgery put extra strain on her heart and the accident was “highly likely to have accelerated her death”.
Investigators said visibility was clear and only the A-pillar in Singleton’s car and electronic devices on his windscreen would have restricted his view.
Singleton denied driving carelessly or dangerously in police interview, but later admitted causing death by careless driving.
Ms Snowdon said: “When asked if he gave a cursory glance to the right and pulled out without seeing her, he said that was a possibility.”
Read more: Musician murdered concert pianist wife after becoming jealous of career
Helen Rickets visited her aunt twice in hospital following the accident.
Ms Snowdon said: “On each occasion she said she did not wish the driver of the car to be punished.
“She said he should not lose his livelihood and she did not want his family’s security to be jeopardised.”
Ms Rickets told the court: “She was the kindest, nicest lady, who always saw the best in everyone.
“She would feel the driver and his family have suffered enough and he could continue with his job and support his family.”
Jason Smith, defending, said his client was “extremely remorseful”.
He said the sentiments expressed by Ms Johnson were testament to her “good nature and to her humanity” but sadly even if he was not jailed, Singleton would lose his job.
Mr Smith said: “The reality is it’s extremely unlikely he will be able to trade or work as a taxi driver ever again.”
Judge Conrad said his sentence would have been different had Singleton been guilty of dangerous, rather than careless, driving.
He handed him six months in prison, suspended for a year, and a two-month home curfew from 9pm to 6am.
The judge banned him from driving for a year and ordered him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/taxi-driver-who-knocked-down-7604754?
-----------------------------------------
BIRMINGHAM and LEEDS
Private hire and taxi group Veezu has strengthened its operations through the acquisition of two taxi companies in Birmingham and Leeds.
In the West Midlands, Veezu-owned A2B Radio Cars has acquired Able Senator Cars, bringing its fleet to more than 600 vehicles to help service its growing customer base in Birmingham, Solihull and surrounding areas.
The six-figure purchase has seen an additional 65 cars join A2B, add around 10 new geographical locations to its patch with an anticipated 5,000 extra bookings per week.
Meanwhile in Leeds, Veezu’s Amber Cars has acquired A1 Taxis, seeing 15 drivers joining its fleet to bring its pool of drivers to 860.
The five-figure deal is expected to create up to 1,500 extra bookings for the business every week in locations such as Holbeck and Beeston, which are areas of Leeds that Amber hasn’t previously had a strong presence in.
Customers of both Able Senator Cars and A1 Taxis will now benefit from Veezu’s investment into its company infrastructure, in which all of its taxi firms offer electronic booking methods such as through a mobile app, the internet and an interactive voice response system as well as maintaining traditional methods of ordering a taxi be it over the phone, walk-ins or on account.
Paul Ragan, chief executive officer of Veezu, said: “Bringing Able Senator Cars and A1 Taxis into the Veezu group enables us to increase our geographical footprint and the number of drivers we have on the road. This sees Amber strengthen even further the areas in which we operate.
“In Birmingham, there was already a lot of synergy between the operating areas of Able and A2B, although Able’s stronghold was undoubtedly south Birmingham, so for us this purchase is not necessarily about expanding the areas in which we operate but making sure we remain ‘best in class‘ to our loyal customers.
“Whereas in Leeds, the purchase will bolster our current offering as A1 Taxis’ drivers bring with them a wealth of knowledge of areas that Amber Cars hasn’t traditionally worked in day-to-day as much.
http://goo.gl/6Q4rp5
No comments:
Post a Comment