BLACKBURN

A TAXI driver failed to stop after colliding with a young man walking home from the Beatherder Festival at Gisburn in July.

Blackburn magistrates heard Badar Munir’s passengers told him he had hit something and said he should stop. And they called police who stopped Munir before he got back to base.

Munir, 27, of Albert Street, Brierfield, pleaded guilty to failing to stop and failing to report an accident which resulted in injury to Stephen Dobson. He was ordered to do 50 hours unpaid work and pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge. His licence was endorsed with eight penalty points.

Kerry Grieve, prosecuting, said at 2.40am Mr Dobson was walking home to Grindleton having left the festival. He was struck by a taxi and suffered a broken bone in his foot and bruising.

“The passengers told the driver he had hit something although they didn’t at that stage know what,” said Mrs Grieve.

“The taxi wing mirror and window were damaged by the collision.

Zia Yasin, defending, said at the time of the collision it was raining and pitch black and Mr Dobson was wearing dark clothing.

“My client didn’t see him,” said Mr Yasin. “He had only been driving for the taxi firm for two weeks and it was in a state of panic and shock that he didn’t stop.

“He was stopped by the police within 45 minutes of the incident.”

Mr Yasin said his client was not sure whether the conviction would result in him losing his taxi licence.

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