Cabbies licence suspended after abusing and intimidating Council staff

An Essex cabbie has had his licence suspended for six weeks after abusing and intimidating council staff.

57 year old John Hall, of Edgware Road, Clacton, had his licence withdrawn after a panel heard how the cabbie acted aggressively and tried to intimidate Tendring District Council staff on a number of occasions.

The intimidation included telephone abuse as well as aggressive behaviour at Tendring District Council offices.

The offences led to the driver’s suspension last November, but Hall appealed against the decision and the case was heard at Colchester Magistrates Court on 16 May. 

The East Anglian Daily Times reported that councillors had found that the driver was in breach of licence conditions which state taxi drivers must behave in "in a civil and orderly manner." As a result, the suspension by Tendring District Council was upheld.

Magistrates reduced the length of the original ban and handed out a six week suspension as well as ordering Hall to pay £1,500 in costs. Hall now has 21 days within which to appeal to the crown court, and if no appeal is made then the six-week suspension will start. Speaking after the hearing, Karen Townshend, TDC's licensing manager, reaffirmed that such behaviour would not be tolerated.

Image Source: Geograph

Image Author: Glyn Baker