Man fined after racially abusing Bath taxi driver during unlicensed cab confrontation

A 60-year-old man has been fined after racially abusing a licensed taxi driver who had been gathering evidence following complaints of alleged unlicensed taxi activity at Bath Spa railway station.

Stephen Woods appeared before Bath Magistrates on Wednesday 5 August following the confrontation on 10 May, which began outside Bath Spa railway station.

According to the Bath Echo, the court heard that a licensed taxi driver had been taking photographs of Woods at the station rank on the instructions of a council taxi official. The action followed complaints that Woods was allegedly picking up passengers without being licensed.

The confrontation later moved to the forecourt of a nearby service station, where Woods subjected the taxi driver to racial abuse in front of members of the public.

Part of the incident was captured on a mobile phone, with Woods telling the driver: “This is not your country. Go back to your country. This is my country.”

Police were called and arrested Woods. During his arrest, he also made remarks to officers about immigration. Woods subsequently pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated offence involving threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Defence solicitor Lisa Rowley told Magistrates that Woods had been at the station to collect a friend’s autistic children and became anxious after realising he was being photographed.

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Woods apologised to the court and said he had been “anxious about what is happening in this country”.

Magistrates ordered him to pay £197, consisting of an £80 fine, £85 prosecution costs and a £32 surcharge.