Taxi driver convcited of beating pedestrians can keep his licence
A TAXI driver who was convicted of beating two pedestrians has been allowed to keep his private hire licence.
Marius Betean, aged 32, was convicted by Plymouth magistrates earlier this year of attacking the men in Plymouth city centre after last year's Bonfire Night fireworks.
-
He was ordered to pay £200 in costs, £750 in compensation and to do 60 hours of unpaid work.
Mr Betean told the city council taxi licensing committee yesterday that two men who he believed were drunk had walked in front of his taxi.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
He beeped his horn as he drove off and something was thrown at his car.
The altercation broke out when he came back to make sure he could identify the two men, he said.
Mr Betean came to Britain four years ago from Romania and has worked as a self-employed taxi driver since.
He said that another similar incident had meant that he had to take his taxi off the road for four days for repairs.
Licensing officer Mark Small asked whether that previous experience had led to him losing his temper in the November 2011 incident.
Colin Trevethan from Taxifirst, told councillors that the company stood by Mr Betean.
He read out letters of support from customers. "If we thought that Marius was a danger to any of our customers or to the public I wouldn't be here today supporting him."
He said taxi drivers frequently encountered problems with the public. "If we called the police every time you would need 100 more police on the streets on a Saturday night.
Mr Betean told the committee: "I deeply regret what happened." In any future incident he would call the police rather than dealing with it himself, he said.
The committee put a warning on Mr Betean's file. This will be taken into account if there is any future complaint against him.
Committee chairman Cllr David Haydon said: "We do appreciate what a taxi driver goes through."
Comments
by MPstink1
Monday, September 10 2012, 3:39PM
“The odious Blair and the confused Brown....Lie bore Govt.....encouraged immigrants to the UK, for their vote! Also free housing and free benefits to them, paid for by tax payers.”
by paul31
Monday, September 10 2012, 2:35PM
“he shoulkd never have a badge anyway there are already more than enough foreign drivers that don't have a clue where there going forcing out english drivers that do and can't earn enough to live on”
by JMonners
Sunday, September 09 2012, 10:25PM
“@Jabba people couldnt drive a car for money??? What are you talking about?? There are FAR more stressful jobs out there.”
by jabbathebutt
Sunday, September 09 2012, 8:01PM
“Not a single one of you could do the job . No matter how hard and clever you think you are hiding behind a keyboard .”
by Workitout
Sunday, September 09 2012, 7:34PM
“-9 on a red...
I just gotta be right.”
by MissAnthrope
Sunday, September 09 2012, 6:39PM
“So you think 95% of taxi drivers should be fired? That would lead to long queues at the taxi-rank at the weekends. You also can't take it when a taxi driver fights back after you admit you and your mate made anti-Polish comments? What sad thick bullies you and your mate clearly are.”
by MrTtec
Sunday, September 09 2012, 12:33PM
“Kick him out of the country!!!!!!!! Theres no excuse for this! 95% of taxi drivers are like this, me and 2 of my friends got attacked by a polish taxi driver after we asked why he is in plymouth!!! If they break our rules they should get the boot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
by Bwiththeollox
Sunday, September 09 2012, 11:55AM
“Should be on the payroll of the council to carry on bashing the Local drunken chav's!
Respect to the boy, lets petition for a post box to be painted in the colours of Romania in his honour.”
by LisaAdam2012
Sunday, September 09 2012, 10:41AM
“Even if he was in uniform he would be disiplined and given a warning. The worst that would happen is he would spend a few months in colchester. For a first offence they would not be kicked out.
Again a comment about being English. There have been taxi drivers whom have defended themselves by having abusive customers, chased after fairs or whatever the reason that have been ENGLISH were not given a hefty fine or made to do community service they were suspended for a few weeks instead. So it doesn't matter what language you speak if you knew the circumstances, situation (no one has mention the fact that the other 2 men were bums and come on people 2 guys against 1 here do you really believe that he is truely guilty or are these two men working together here) and the character. Do you really think that Marius would keep his license if he was a threat?”
by paul31
Sunday, September 09 2012, 9:48AM
“would the council have let him keep his badge if he was english, i very much doubt it!!!!!!!”