SOUTH SHIELDS

A TAXI driver has denied sexually assaulting a female passenger after picking her up as she walked through the rain in the early hours of the morning.

Randgar Mohammad, 30, is alleged to have offered the woman a free lift home before kissing her on the face and neck.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mohommad’s alleged victim was then asked for her phone number and, terrified, gave it to him before leaving the taxi and running home.

A jury heard that the alleged attack happened on May 6 after the victim had spent the night at a friend’s house playing video games.

The friend, who appeared as a witness, told the jury how the victim told her about the alleged attack just days after it happened.

She said: “She told me he had tried to come onto her and touched her in a sexual way, and that she had felt threatened and had to get out of the car and run home after the attack.

“He leaned in and kissed her, and had his hand on her leg.

“She was distressed and upset when she told me about it.”

During cross-examination, Mohammad, of Dean Street, South Shields, denied all the allegations made against him.

He told the court that there had been nothing unusual about the short drive and that the pair had just had “normal taxi conversations” before he dropped her off near her home.

When Mohammad was arrested and questioned by police he denied that anything had happened between the alleged victim and himself.

Mohammad, who is originally from Iraq, told the court he had only wanted them to be “friends” or for her to become a “regular customer”.

During police interview, he said: “I have not touched anyone in my taxi, I am married and my wife means the world to me.”

Stephen Duffield, defending, told the court Mohammad has been driving a taxi since 2011 and has no previous convictions.

Michael Bunch, prosecuting, claims Mohammad had asked the woman if the two of them could go to the beach for a bit and then kissed her on the face and neck.

He is also said to have asked if the pair could meet up the following day.

Mr Bunch told the jury how the victim received a telephone call and, recognising the defendant’s voice, hung up immediately.

Mohammad denies one count of sexual assault.

The trial continues.

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/crime/taxi-driver-denies-sexually-assaulting-female-passenger-1-7010016
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GREENOCK

A man and woman have been taken to hospital after they were knocked down by a taxi.

The road collision happened at around 8.30am on Wednesday in Greenock, Inverclyde.

Police and an ambulance attended the scene of the crash on Nelson Street at the junction with Brisbane Street in the town.

The pair were then taken to hospital for treatment for various injuries.

The road was closed by police while the crash scene was being investigated and was reopened before midday.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "A man and woman were injured at around 8.30am on Wednesday after being struck by a taxi on Nelson Street.

"They were taken to Inverclyde Royal Hospital for treatment to their injuries, which are not thought to be life-threatening.

"Nelson street has now been reopened."

http://news.stv.tv/west-central/303861-man-and-woman-in-hospital-after-being-hit-by-taxi-greenock-street/?
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BIRMINGHAM

Partygoers are being urged to pre-book their journeys home after officers stopped 44 vehicles during a licensing operation on Broad Street over the weekend (12/13 December).

Birmingham City Council’s licensing officers, working with West Midlands Police colleagues, caught two drivers illegally plying for hire – including a member of the public posing as a licenced driver, who picked up two undercover police officers.

The city council intends to prosecute both drivers: If convicted, the private hire driver who attempted to pick up fares, could also have his licence permanently revoked by the Licensing and Public Protection Committee.

In a separate operation, Vehicle and Operator Service Agency officers stopped nine public service vehicles – minibuses too big to be private hire vehicles – on Friday night (12 December): one for having no operator licence, one working under a false operator licence and six for tachograph offences, exceeding their daily or weekly driving limit.

Four vehicles were also taken off the road as a result of concerns over their safety.

This action comes as the council’s new public safety campaign urges revellers to be safe and pre-book their taxis home after their Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Revellers are being warned not to flag down a private hire car in the street as the driver will commit an offence if he picks them up – and if the driver has an accident, the passengers will not be insured. Those who have not pre-booked can get a taxi from one of two marshalled ranks in the city centre on Broad Street or Ladywell Walk, near the Arcadian.

Cllr Barbara Dring, Chair of the city council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said: “This is the busiest time for our bars, clubs and restaurants which are packed with people enjoying themselves – and we want them to get home safely.

“Drivers’ backgrounds are checked as part of the licensing process to see if they have a criminal record, but as one of the drivers caught was a unlicensed member of the public anyone who got into his car was getting in with a total stranger.

“The vast majority of the vehicles stopped by officers are licenced and roadworthy.  Our licensing team monitor this kind of activity all year round but it’s particularly important at peak times like the Christmas party season.

“However the message to all partygoers – at any time of year – is clear: be safe, pre-book your taxi.”

Between 1 April and 30 November 2014, licensing officers stopped 302 Hackney carriages and 817 private hire vehicles, of which 263 and 716 complied with the safety-related conditions of their licence.

Only Hackney Carriage vehicles can pick up fares on the street. Private hire drivers cannot accept passengers unless a booking has been made through their private hire operator. Customers who get into private hire vehicles that have not been booked through an operator place themselves at risk because the driver’s insurance does not cover plying for hire.

Birmingham is one of more than 40 British cities awarded Purple Flag status – similar to the Blue Flag for clean, safe beaches – for standards of excellence in delivering an enjoyable, diverse, and safe night out.

ENDS
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