Leila Ghahhary Prosecutes Taxi Driver on behalf of Cheshire East Council for refusing a blind woman and her guide dog

Pat Powell, 73, said she felt discriminated against when cabbie John Mycroft, 55, refused to take her and her guide dog Yates home after shopping in Tesco on Exchange Street, Macclesfield, a court heard.

Macclesfield Magistrates court heard Mrs Powell approached his taxi at the front of the rank with security guard Yogendra ‘Yogi’ Patel, 42, who was helping with her shopping.

The court heard that Mycroft said he couldn’t take Mrs Powell and her dog because he was waiting for another job and didn’t have time.

But the court heard the defendant should not have been on the council hackney carriage rank if he was unavailable to pick up passengers.

Mycroft, of Brocklehurst Way, Macclesfield, pleaded guilty to refusing to take a passenger ‘without reasonable excuse’ on April 24. The guilty plea came on the day when a trial was scheduled to take place.

He was fined £100 and ordered to pay £665 prosecution costs brought by Cheshire East Council.

Prosecuting for Cheshire East Council, Leila Ghahhary, said it was an offence to be on the rank while unable to drive Mrs Powell.

She said: “The defendant said he had a job in the morning and was waiting for the customer to call him back in the afternoon.

“Although he was on the rank he felt unable to take Mrs Powell and her guide dog as it would have taken longer to help her.

“In reality, he had no record for that booking.”

In a statement read by the prosecutor, Mrs Powell said: “I rely on my guide dog to get out and about. I have a wonderful relationship with him and put my full trust in him.

“He’s my companion and I need him to be my guide.

“When the driver refused to let us in the taxi I felt frustrated and discriminated against. I simply wanted to get home like anybody else.

“Luckily there was another taxi available to carry me but this may have occurred at night when I was on my own and I could have been left in a dangerous situation.”

Defending, Stephen Rodgers, said Mycroft maintains he spoke to the security guard first and indicated he was not available to drive the lady and guide dog.

He said: “He had a reason for refusing the booking but it’s not an acceptable excuse under the legislation.

“He has absolutely no difficulty with this lady and her guide dog or blind people in general and has transported Mrs Powell before.

“He accepts he should not have pulled onto the rank. He’s a man of good character and experienced taxi driver who made a bad decision.”

Mrs Powell, a grandmother of four, of Steeple Street, Macclesfield, who was born and bred in in the town, was a nurse at Parkside before she retired.

During her work there her eyesight began to deteriorate and sadly treatment by doctors was unable to save her sight.

She was registered blind 18 years ago and now gives talks for the Guide Dogs charity. She is a member of the Salvation Army and helps distribute its newsletter in town.

Mrs Powell said after the hearing: “This is a win for all guide dog owners and other disabled people.

“I’m so pleased he pleaded guilty and think he deserved the sentence.

“Even now I feel apprehensive about getting a taxi. It’s the sixth time I was refused from a taxi and I don’t want it to happen to another guide dog owner.”

The prosecution was brought by Cheshire East council. The council’s licensing committee will now review Mr Mycroft’s taxi licence.

Penny Williams, from The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, says the association is not aware of any similar prosecutions in Cheshire or Merseyside since the Equality Act.

She said: “We are delighted Cheshire East Council has taken action on this issue.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/im-not-taking-dog-callous-4748516

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30317676

http://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/local-news/guide-dog-owners-joy-after-8223097