Taxi Driver Online

Blackpool Gazette

May 14, 2007

Company boss in 'frenzied' taxi attack

A COMPANY boss who launched a frightening attack on a taxi suggested to police that the driver was trying to rob him of his £52,000 watch.

Property company boss Brendan Kiely smashed three of the cab windows with a scaffolding plank, showering the driver with glass.

Kiely, 40, of Ballam Road, Lytham, pleaded guilty to assaulting taxi driver David Dove and causing damage.

Brett Gerrity, prosecuting, said the taxi picked up Kiely outside Blackpool's Sanuk nightclub and drove him home on March 24 at 1.15am

Kiely, who was drunk, fell asleep and when they arrived he said he was not going to pay.

The driver then locked him in. Kiely eventually handed over £20. After leaving the taxi Kiely became aggressive. He picked up a 4ft scaffolding plank and smashed two of the taxi's side windows and its windscreen. Glass from a broken window caused small cuts on the cabbie's hands.

Mr Gerrity added: "It was a frenzied attack and the driver was frightened for his own safety. The defendant was abusive to police and suggested that the driver was trying to rob him of his watch, which was worth £52,000."

Michael Leach, defending, said his client was a wealthy man, who lived with his partner and three children.

Kiely and the driver had disagreed over the fare.

Mr Leach said: "The taxi driver then quite improperly and unlawfully locked him in the cab. After leaving the taxi my client feared for his safety as the taxi driver was refusing to get off his premises."

"Kiely accepts he then became over-protective of his family and home. He is deeply ashamed and had no intention of injuring the driver."

Kiely was sentenced to 100 hours unpaid community work and ordered to pay £625 compensation for damage to the taxi, plus £50 costs by Blackpool magistrates.
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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Nice to here a judge on our side (and the police)

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07K29Fc15U

So it is illegal to lock someone in who refuses to pay the fare and take them back to where you picked them up from?

But! if you take them back in an unlocked vehicle - is that illegal?

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Interesting question.

I would like to think it wasn't illegal, but it would all depend on the situation at the time.

I think it boils down to the fact they we are f***ed if we do, and f***ed if we don't.

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IDFIMH