WEST MIDLANDS

A man has been jailed for robbing taxi drivers in the West Midlands area by threatening them with a used needle he claimed was infected with the Aids virus.

David Purcell, 31, was sentenced for two counts of robbery at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 1 March after he threatened drivers last summer.

On 6 June 2016, Purcell, got into the first taxi on Cloister Drive, Halesowen and held a used syringe to the neck of the driver and demanded he gave him money before fleeing on foot.

Purcell did exactly the same thing to a second taxi on Shenstone Avenue in Stourbridge on 14 July. Neither taxi drivers were harmed during the robberies.

Police arrested him after officers traced the mobile used to call the taxis, which was later found on his possession on 2 August.

Purcell, from Hamilton Avenue, Halesowen, has now been jailed for seven years for the two counts of robbery.

West Midlands Police DC Sean Lowe, who led the investigation, said: "These serious offences understandably caused a lot of concern amongst cab drivers in the area, who feared the offender would strike again.

"Mobile phone cell site data was collected for both the offences which put Purcell at the locations and coupled with positive identification by the brave victims we were able to get this result.

"I hope the news he has been taken off the streets for such a long time offers reassurance both to local drivers and to the community

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SEFTON

A list of complaints made against taxi drivers in Sefton has revealed alleged incidents of abusive behaviour, offensive language and guide dog refusal.

An agenda for the Licensing and Regulatory Committee of Sefton Council revealed the full list of complaints handled by the Taxi Licensing Unit between September 2016 and February 2017.

The highest number of complaints related to driver conduct or appearance, with 64 received in this period.

Abusive behaviour and offensive language are the most common complaints made.

The report says: “Usually the driver involved is invited to attend a meeting to discuss the allegations.

“If it is warranted they receive a warning or suspension, the outcome being dependent on evidence available.

“Smoking in vehicles or dropping of litter remains a common complaint for which fixed penalties can be issued.”

Any threatening behaviour is reported to the police.

A number of complaints were also received about driving style.

Of the 35 complaints received, these usually related to passengers having concerns about the manner in which a vehicle is driven.

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A mother who was seriously injured when she was run over by her taxi driver son insists he is a "good boy" and can't wait to give him a hug.

Abdul Abbasi, 32, was yesterday cleared of attempted murder, but the jury found him guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Abbasi was accused of using his silver-blue Vauxhall Astra "as a weapon" to first back over his mother, Rehana Abbasi, before driving over her again and fleeing the scene.

During the trial, Abbasi insisted he loved his mother and had no motive for wanting to hurt her.
Shortly after the verdicts were returned, and speaking through a relative who agreed to translate for her, Pakistan-born Mrs Abbasi told the Mail: "I am very happy that my son has been found not guilty. Thank God! I am dying to see him. I need to see him. I will give him a hug.

"I know it was an accident. He is a good boy. He is a good son. He is my only son. He is a taxi driver and works hard."

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EAST LINDSEY

A man who placed the public at risk has been found guilty of operating a private hire taxi service without being licensed or insured.


This came after he had previously been given advice and guidance about what he needed to do if he wanted to run such a service - including getting private hire operator, vehicle and driver licences.

But he was caught operating without the documents when he took a booking to provide an airport run.

He was prosecuted by East Lindsey District Council for two offences relating to operating an unlicensed private hire vehicle from his home and will now pay almost £950 to the council.
Clarke did not appear at Boston Magistrates Court but submitted written guilty pleas.

Adrian Twiddy, principal licensing officer at the council, said: "Operating a taxi or private hire service is a serious business and it is important those who are doing so comply with the law and ensure they have the relevant licences and insurances in place.

"This case sends a strong message to those who are providing such a service illegally – if you're caught we will take action."

Sentencing him, the magistrates said Clarke had placed members of the public at risk by operating an unlicensed and uninsured private hire vehicle.
He was fined £500 for the two offences under the Local Government Act 1976.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £417.88 and a £30 victim surcharge, totaling £947.88.

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A big spike in the number of Sheffield drivers travelling to London to obtain taxi licences has sparked further concern over regulations. Figures supplied to The Star by the GMB union show in the last six months - the number of drivers with a Sheffield postcode that holds a Transport for London taxi licence has risen from 53 to 177 - a massive 330 per cent increase.

In September 2016, The Star revealed over 700 taxi drivers that reside in Sheffield were handed licences from councils as far as Wales and Lancashire - over 400 of which came from the town of Rossendale near Blackburn.  Over 700 Sheffield taxi drivers licensed by councils hundreds of miles away GMB rep and Sheffield licenced taxi driver Ibrar Hussain has been campaigning on this issue calling for stricter regulation on cross-border taxi licencing. He said:

"There is a lack of enforcement or no enforcement at all as to who's driving these vehicles. Are they fit and proper? Are the vehicles safe to drive? Why live in Sheffield, but get licence from TfL? Mr Hussain has been joined by senior council figures and Sheffield MPs on lobbying the Government to change the law .

At present, a driver who lives in Sheffield can approach Transport for London for a private hire vehicle licence and come back to Sheffield to operate in the city with a number of firms. Because the driver is licensed elsewhere in the country, Sheffield Council has limited powers to take enforcement action if needed.

Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh said:

“Sheffield Council prides itself on its strict licensing and rigorous training conditions which help keep taxi users in our city safe. But the change in the law is riding roughshod over these protections meaning drivers from across the country can get a licence from areas with different standards and requirements and still operate in Sheffield. "We have been warning the Government about this for months and these troubling new figures show it is now time to take action. Sheffield Council should decide who can and can’t operate a taxi in our city, not some council hundreds of miles away who haven’t the first idea about what protections Sheffield needs.”

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