Taxi passenger refused to pay his fare

A PASSENGER refused to pay a taxi driver after he'd driven him from Morriston Hospital to his Swansea address.

Swansea Magistrates' Court heard that during the �16 journey, Gary Paul Carmichael, 26, of Brynymor Road, had told the cabbie he had the cash for his fare in his home.

Anwen Evans, prosecuting, said the incident happened at 2am on November 21 when Carmichael travelled with Data Cabs.

"On the way there he said he had no money," said Mrs Evans.

"But it was agreed that when they arrived at Swansea Mr Carmichael would hand over his mobile phone as a deposit while he went in the house to get the money.

Sorry

"But at the address he refused. He went into his home and remained at the property."

The driver reported him to the police and Carmichael was later arrested. In police interview he said he was sorry for his actions and wished to pay for the fare as civilly as possible.

Carmichael pleaded guilty to dishonestly making off without making payment.

Ian Hopkins, in mitigation, said the case had previously been listed before the court and then adjourned so Carmichael could pay the money to the cab firm.

He said he believed the Crown Prosecution Service would have then perhaps taken a view not to proceed with the charge. "We say that either on December 5 or 6, Mr Carmichael actually went and made payment to a female at the firm, in the morning," said Mr Hopkins.

He said Carmichael was "adamant" he'd paid them, but the firm said he had not.

District Judge Vivian Manning-Davies adjourned the case so Carmichael could try to ascertain exactly when he claimed he had made payment to the firm.

St Lucia Sunderland Simon Cowell Regulators North-west Democrats