Taxi fare runner fined after Chester dispute highlights risk and cost of bilking to drivers
- Perry Richardson
- 9 minutes ago
- 2 min read
A Grimsby man has been fined and ordered to compensate a taxi driver after running off without paying his fare in Chester, an incident that illustrates the wider financial impact of fare evasion on the taxi trade.
Gavin Jeavons, 33, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court to using threatening and abusive words and making off without payment. The case related to an incident on 22 November when Jeavons took a taxi back to the Mercure Hotel after a night out while working in the city.
According to the Chester Standard, Jeavons asked the driver to stop at a Co-op store to buy cigarettes during the journey. Prosecutors said the driver declined, telling him the shop was closed and the vehicle would not be stopping. Jeavons then became aggressive, verbally abused the driver and jumped out of the taxi without paying the £15.90 fare.
The court heard that while the unpaid amount was small, the consequences for both parties were not. Magistrates fined Jeavons £266 and ordered him to pay the outstanding fare to the driver, along with a £106 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs. His solicitor said the defendant was ashamed of his behaviour and had already incurred significant personal expense as a result of the case.
Passenger ordered to pay compensation and fines after making off without paying £15.90 fare following abusive confrontation
Within the taxi industry, such incidents are known as bilking and are regarded as more than a minor nuisance. For drivers, particularly those who are self-employed, an unpaid fare directly reduces income and can erase the daily profit once fuel, licensing fees and vehicle costs are taken into account. Repeated incidents also increase stress and the risk of confrontation, especially during late-night work.
Time spent reporting incidents, attending court or pursuing compensation is time off the road can increase the true cost of bilking way past to value of the fare itself.
