Cab driver in court for smoking in taxi

Driver 'had been spoken to before' by police

A TAXI driver has been fined for smoking in his cab.

Frederick Elliot, aged 64, of Almond Avenue, Newbury, pleaded guilty by post to committing the offence in Newbury on June 4 last year.

Alex Kirk, prosecuting on behalf of West Berkshire Council, said: “At 11am Mr Elliot was observed flicking cigarette ash from his taxi window. An officer recognised him as a person he had spoken to before about smoking in his taxi.

“He approached the driver who said he was addicted to smoking. There was no passenger in the car at the time.”

Mr Kirk said Mr Elliot had been spoken to twice before about smoking in thbe vehicle.

In a letter of mitigation read to magistrates, Mr Elliot said: “I had just taken an unpleasant man to the railway station and needed the relief of a cigarette. I’m a habitual smoker.”

Magistrates fined him £50 and ordered Mr Elliot tp pay £100 costs plus a £20 victim surcharge.