Former cab company owner convicted of causing damage to taxi

A former cab company owner has pleaded guilty to damaging a taxi while on holiday in Blackpool after smashing its windscreen.

38 year old Neil Gallagher of Compass Street, Swansea was picked up with his wife by a taxi outside Blackpool Pleasure Beach ice arena at 12.25am on 6 May.

Prosecutor Pam Smith told Blackpool Magistrates Court that Gallagher had asked to go to an ATM and then on to a kebab house where he and his wife would eat.

She went on to tell the court that Gallagher wanted the cabbie to wait for them and then take them back to their hotel.

The court then heard from Ms Smith that the cabbie explained that because it was a very busy time he would be unable to wait for the couple whilst they ate.

However, Gallagher then told the cabbie that he owned a taxi company in Wales and you will wait because I’m paying The prosecutor then described how the cabbie refused, at which point Gallagher then got out of the cab and hit the windscreen shattering it.

The cabbie claimed that he lost earnings over that weekend as it was also a bank holiday and as a result couldn't get his vehicle repaired.

Robert Castle, defending, explained to the court that his client had had a taxi company in Wales but it had failed, as a result Gallagher’s mental health had been affected and subsequently had a nervous breakdown earlier in the year.

Gallagher also felt that the cabbie had a legal obligation to take them and in frustration slapped the windscreen, although not intending to damage it.

Gallagher was fined £120 and ordered to pay £330 in compensation towards the cost of the cab driver's windscreen and his subsequent loss of earnings.

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Image Author James Cridland