SOUTHPORT
Vol 26 l Issue 21
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A TAXI driver who racially abused a guard at Southport railway station has won an appeal against Sefton Council’s decision to refuse him a new private hire licence after arguing he had been in extreme pain with a leg condition at the time of the offence. As previously reported in the Champion, Brian Bradshaw, 38, was given a prison sentence of eight weeks, suspended for 12 months, in February of last year for the racially aggravated public order offence. The court heard that he and a relative had been to Southport Air Show when he was stopped from entering the railway station after he stumbled and a railway guard thought he was drunk. Bradshaw launched into a racist tirade against the guard which the court heard lasted 15 minutes and left the guard so deeply affected that he took time off work. The rail guard told police. “He was so fixated on the colour of my skin and kept repeating comments. It was not like it was a joke. It was like a person of deep hatred.” As Bradshaw appeared at Sefton Magistrates Court on May 15, to contest the council’s refusal to renew his taxi licence, he said he had not been drunk at Southport railway station but had a painful leg condition which made him
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Cabbie who racially abused guard wins appeal for taxi licence Report by Kenny Parker
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stumble and for which his relative was holding him up. Providing medical evidence of operations he had subsequently had on his leg, he said he ‘lost it’ when the guard told him to go for a walk and return after half an hour “I've been a taxi driver on and off for ten years and I've never had a problem,” he said, “I am sorry for what happened. It just happened because I was in extreme pain.” Fiona Townsend, representing Sefton Council, said that to be issued a licence, applicants must be considered fit and proper persons and that the overriding concern is for the safety of the travelling public. She said that there is no standard definition of fit and proper person but that there must be at least five years from the end of the last sentence before someone with a criminal record can be considered for a licence, unless there are exceptional mitigating factors. Granting Bradshaw the appeal the magistrates said that along with his medical evidence they had considered references he had supplied which said the incident was ‘totally out of character’, and that he had an unblemished record as a taxi driver. “Taking all that into account we believe that you are a fit and proper person and for that reason your appeal has been granted,” they said.
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charity sector, Kelly is a keen runner and acts as a national by VOUCHER Danielle Thompson ambassador for Parkrun UK. Assisted with guide runners, she has competed in 5k and 10k races, A BLIND ambassador and one of as well as several half marathons the organisers of Southport’s first and also the London Marathon in Parkruns have been given special 2018. Kelly occasionally runs with Dr awards by the Royal National Tobin, a local GP who helped Institute of Blind People. Kelly Barton, 42 and Dr Simon organise Southport’s Parkrun Tobin, 54, both from Southport, when he realised there was a lack were presented with awards for of opportunities for his visually their determination to break down impaired patients to exercise and barriers for people with sight loss, improve their health. For his involvement in setting up at a ceremony in the Lowry Hotel 94 CHURCH ROAD, www.courtyardtarleton the event, Dr.co.uk Tobin was presented in Manchester. TARLETON, PR4 6UP OPEN SEVEN DAYSthe A WEEK L F been R S Ehas with RNIB Recognition Award Kelly, who blind since YOU t 01772 815068 T Monday Saturday 9.30am 5.30pm A - G O O N , T R Ebirth, was presented with the for Outstanding Work Benefitting Sunday 11.00am - 5.00pm FREE PARKING RNIB Recognition Award for Out- the Visually Impaired. Kelly said:Too” “I have absolutely no standing RoleQuality Model & forGreat her Savings “A Fantastic Destination Offering the Best in achievements. She works as a vision in my right eye, but a tiny volunteer coordinator for the Sal- amount of sight in my left eye. vation Army’s Strawberry Fields Because of my sight impairment, I project, where she commits hours didn’t realise that I could get into to recruiting and supporting running until a few years ago volunteers while also acting as a when I joined by first parkrun. volunteer counsellor. Kelly Barton and Simon Tobin at Southport Parkrun Continued inside On top of her dedication to the TICK BOX IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE ADDED TO THE COURTYARD MAILING LIST.
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