Taxi Driver Online

Gloucestershire Echo

June 27, 2007 Wednesday

Taxi driver to plead for his job

Shamed Mark Bacon faces losing his taxi driver's licence because council officers no longer consider him a "fit and proper person".

He was convicted of stealing £8,000 from his former employers, Cotswold Bowl, last month. He stole the money over the two years he was managing the bowling alley.

Last month a judge at Gloucester Crown Court sentenced him to nine months in prison suspended for two years.

He's been working as a hackney carriage driver since leaving the bowling alley. He says he has kept Cheltenham Borough Council informed of the prosecution throughout and is pleading with it to let him stay.

In a letter written to the council's licensing committee, the 33 year-old said: "I'm very embarrassed and ashamed by my actions and I can only reiterate how stupid I was to have committed this offence.

"I really do love my job. It's also a very important job for the financial support I can give my young family. I have been upfront and honest about the facts from before my licence was originally granted and I hope this will be taken into consideration."

Officers are recommending his licence is revoked.

Mr Bacon, who lives in Priors Road, Cheltenham, will plead his case at a licensing meeting on Friday.

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Yes he shouldn't have done what he did, and maybe the LO is spot on.

But there's something that makes me think he should have had another chance as it's now down to the tax payer to fund his life.

And I pay enough as it is.

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IDFIMH

I'm a firm believer in giving everyman a chance depending on what the crime is of course?

Its up to councillors to decide whether he is a fit and proper person but we shouldn't forget that we have some convicted murderers driving Taxis, so under those circumstances where does the sliding scale of justice begin and end?

Regards

JD

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