Taxi Driver Online

Another odd article about people who have badges in Edinburgh

Or, at least, this reads like he's got a badge, and is keeping it, but who knows?


Edinburgh taxi driver who stalked neighbour 'struck walls and played loud music'

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/ed ... d-34707917

Brian Wood accepted his behaviour went 'above and beyond'

https://dfbk2ikz1if1kg.archive.is/QlbWW ... aceb4.avif

An Edinburgh taxi driver subjected his neighbour to a horrific months-long campaign of targeted stalking, threats of violence and aggressive behaviour.

Brian Wood terrified the victim by repeatedly contacting her on multiple occasions through conduct his defence solicitor admitted was "above and beyond".

The 45-year-old was found guilty of stalking and engaging in conduct which caused fear and alarm after a trial which concluded on September 2 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. He was also sentenced for several charges of breaching bail and failing to attend court hearings.

He was handed a hefty sentence on Friday, October 2, at the same court by Sheriff Christopher Dickson.

A victim impact statement referred to five years of conduct, Sheriff Dickson told the court, but Wood was "not convicted" of offences spanning that length of time.

Wood was found guilty of contacting the victim at her home in Drylaw on four separate occasions between May 30, 2025 and July 11. He did this in violation of bail conditions preventing him from contacting or approaching her.

On May 30 and July 11 Wood was also found to have acted in an aggressive manner by repeatedly shouting and swearing at the victim, continually uttering offensive remarks, and playing "excessively loud music".

He further made threats of violence, repeatedly struck a wall and the ground at the property, which was "likely to cause [the victim] fear and alarm".

The taxi driver faced another charge of resisting arrest on July 11 by violently struggling with two police constables - however this charge was struck from the indictment.

Wood's solicitor Aryan Melrose said "He does still feel there were issues on both sides" of the dispute but that "he does accept he went above and beyond".

She also claimed the soundproofing in the property was "minimal". Wood has since permanently moved away from the flat where the stalking took place. Ms Melrose told the court Wood has been in a "stable" relationship for over a year and "wants to move one with his life".

Sheriff Dickson called the offences "serious" with a maximum sentence of 12 months in custody.

However, a social work report identified "another way to deal" with Wood, according to the Sheriff.

Wood was ordered to complete 220 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.

He was also slapped with a non-harassment order for an "indeterminate" length of time. This prevents him from approaching or contacting the victim. He is also barred from entering several roads near the victim's address in Drylaw.

Negotiations took place which allowed him to continue accessing main roads to visit an uncle and commence his work as a taxi driver.

What does that final paragraph even mean? The word 'commence' makes it sound like he's hasn't even done the job yet, but is about to start.

Maybe it just means 'commence' in a more immediate sense, like commencing a run

So basically he's been allowed to drive on the main roads so he can work as a taxi driver.

So it all reads like he's been a working driver, and will continue to do so despite this conviction, and with the court's permission

Part of the sentence would have contained a condition that he doesn't go to a certain road or district. Most likely the address of the fella whose life he has
made a misery of.

Although it appears the court has allowed him to go to those areas if he is visiting his uncle or taking a punter through the area.

I think the last part of the above sentence will be moot because I can't see him keeping his license.

_________________
IDFIMH

Nothing new here on the 'taxi' angle. But even more evidence, surely, that his badge is toast?

That said, it's a wonder he still has a badge at all...


Disabled Edinburgh woman left 'scared to sleep' during taxi driver's stalking campaign

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/ed ... d-34719448

Wood was previously found guilty of covering up the woman's CCTV camera and giving her unwanted gifts.

An Edinburgh taxi driver who subjected a neighbour to a campaign of stalking where he played excessively loud music and banged on doors and walls was convicted of a similar offence against the same victim less than a year ago, we can now reveal.

Edinburgh Live reported last week how taxi driver Brian Wood caused the female victim fear and alarm by threatening her with violence and carrying out aggressive behaviour in 2025.

It has now been revealed Wood carried out a similar pattern of worrying behaviour for over more than four years from 2021 to 2024, leaving the disabled victim "terrified" to leave her own home.

A source close to the victim told us: "The impact it had on her was massive. [Wood] left her a prisoner in her own home. She was terrified to leave the house because every time she did, he was there."

Wood appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, October 2, where he was sentenced after pleading guilty in September to stalking and engaging in conduct which caused fear and alarm.

This comes after a prior conviction from December 2025 where Wood pleaded guilty to even more serious stalking offences over a much longer period.

Court documents from December reveal Wood admitted to stalking the woman between September 21, 2021 to September 21, 2023 and September 14, 2023 to December 31, 2024 at an address in Drylaw.

Wood repeatedly attended at her address, entered the area surrounding her home, followed her when she was leaving or returning to her address, loitered in the communal pathway and attempted to engage in conversation with her.

During this period he also placed items on the communal path preventing her from manoeuvring her wheelchair. He also repeatedly covered up her external CCTV camera and gave her unwanted gifts and cards.

The stalking began shortly after Wood moved into the flat where the victim lived, according to a source close to the victim. The victim would encounter Wood waiting outside the flat with lavish gifts like chocolate, wine, and flowers.

The unwanted attention frightened the victim, who told Wood she wanted his behaviour to stop.

Eventually, she called the police on Wood, which soured his demeanour. He began slamming heavy objects onto the ceiling above her flat, following her whenever she left the property, and blocking the communal hallways to obstruct her wheelchair.

The source told us: "He put her through mental torture every night. He ensured she could not sleep. He left her sleep deprived and scared to go to sleep for how she was being woken up.

"She was terrified to leave her home, come home, and go in her garden. He always wanted her to know she was being watched. He became very fixated and obsessed.

"She also became very isolated because he'd follow her visitors out and be abusive and intimidating.

Edinburgh Live also heard the victim felt unable to move away from the property because of her chronic health conditions. She suffers from several auto immune disorders, a cystic brain tumour, and chronic fatigue.

The source added: "It was supposed to be her forever home. It's a council home and was chosen for her because of all her health needs. It's also near a lot of her family members who give her support. Plus, it's really difficult to get a move from a council home."

Wood was sentenced on Friday, October 2, to complete 220 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.

He was also slapped with a non-harassment order for an "indeterminate" length of time. This prevents him from approaching or contacting the victim. He is also barred from entering several roads near the victim's address in Drylaw.

Sheriff Dickson called the offences put before the court on Friday "serious" with a maximum sentence of 12 months in custody. However, a social work report identified "another way to deal" with Wood, according to the Sheriff.

Negotiations took place which allowed him to continue accessing main roads to visit an uncle and commence his work as a taxi driver.