Follow PHTM
Posted on the 4th September 2024 in PHTM News
NEWCASTLE MEN INCLUDING CABBIE ON TRIAL FOR RUNNING £18,000 HEROIN RING DURING COVID
Four men from the North East of England are on trial accused of running a £18,000 heroin ring during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The alleged drug operation was uncovered after French police intercepted encrypted messages between the men and handed data over to the National Crime Agency.
Robert English, 42, Mark McKeswick, 49, Nico Easton, 31, and taxi driver Scott Highfield, 31, are all charged with a range of drug-related offences.
The prosecution alleges that the group used the encrypted messaging service EncroChat to coordinate the supply of heroin across the region.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service, messages recovered from EncroChat indicate that a kilo of heroin was transported from Newcastle to Teesside.
Highfield is accused of making two trips to Newcastle to collect the drugs, while Easton allegedly facilitated the transaction.
Highfield, from Stockton, denies conspiracy to supply heroin.
The court heard that Highfield admits that he made the two journeys to Newcastle in April and May of 2020 - but he says that the passenger travelling in his taxi must have been sending the messages.
The trial is expected to last several weeks.
Read another story
- CASH ONLY IRISH CABBIE FACING LOSS OF LICENCE URGED TO OPEN BANK ACCOUNT
William Wyse,a veteran taxi driver with 42 years of experience, appeared in Cork District Court on Friday 13 September, to appeal a decision to revoke his licence.
- POLICE APPEAL FOR CABBIE WITNESS AS MAN CHARGED AFTER ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING IN SHIPLEY
A man has been charged in connection with an attempted kidnapping incident that occurred in the town last week.
- BLIND MAN FROM HARROW WINS CASE AGAINST PHV DRIVER WHO REFUSED TRIP DUE TO GUIDE DOG
Stephen Anderson, 33, who works as a public servant, says he has had 82 refusals by taxi and PHV drivers for having his guide dog with him.
- VEEZU BRITANNIA TAXIS WIGAN LEADS WAY CONFIRMING STRICTER OBSERVANCE OF TRIPLE LOCK RULE
In response to passenger and driver-partner feedback, Britannia Taxis will be making changes to the dispatch of bookings in your operational areas.
- PETERBOROUGH COUNCIL PROPOSES MANDATORY CCTV IN TAXIS AND PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES
Peterborough City Council is set to introduce mandatory CCTV cameras in all hackney carriage and private hire vehicles within the city.
- COUNCILLORS CONFIRM FALKIRK TAXI FARES WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED
Taxi fares in Falkirk will remain frozen for the next year, council officials have confirmed.
- WALLSEND MAN JAILED FOR TEN YEARS AFTER KNIFEPOINT ROBBERY OF PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER
A Wallsend man has been sentenced to ten years in prison for a terrifying knifepoint robbery on a private hire driver.
- HYNDBURN DRIVER LOSES APPEAL AGAINST LICENCE REVOCATION FOR CARRYING DRUGS
A Hyndburn Borough Council taxi driver has lost his appeal against the revocation of his licence after the vehicle he was driving was found to contain suspected drugs.
- UBER DRIVER'S DRIVING BAN FOR FATAL GLASGOW HIT AND RUN REDUCED ON APPEAL
An Uber driver serving time for killing a man in a hit-and-run incident has had his driving ban reduced.
- BROTHERS SENTENCED FOR FIRING BALL BEARINGS AT TAXI AND THEFT IN HAMPSHIRE
Dillon Alan Cooper (21) and Thomas Edward Cooper (21) appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court on 10 September after pleading guilty to their charges.
- TAXI COMPANY HELPS BOOST DRIVER NUMBERS IN BASSETLAW
A local taxi company has successfully recruited a significant number of new drivers, thanks to a streamlined pre-licensing process supported by Bassetlaw District Council.
- BOXALL TAXIS COLLABORATES WITH CABINAIR SWEDEN TO SET NEW STANDARDS IN AIR QUALITY
Boxall Taxis will become the first taxi company in the UK to equip selected vehicles with CabinAir’s cutting-edge Nordzone™ System and Nordzone™ Air Quality Monitor. This initiative will significantly improve air quality
- ONE IN FOUR RIDE HAILING DRIVERS EARN OVER £4,000 MONTHLY ACCORDING TO BOLT
Bolt launches campaign to highlight entrepreneurship opportunities in the industry.
- FREENOW AND OVO PARTNER TO OFFER EV DRIVERS COMPETITIVE CHARGING DEALS
Through the partnership, FREENOW drivers will be able to charge their EVs at a market-leading rate of 7p per kilowatt-hour (kWh) using OVO's Charge Anytime service.
- MAN JAILED FOR ATTEMPTED AMBULANCE THEFT AND DANGEROUS DRIVING FOR RAMMING ABERDEEN CABBIE
A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for a series of offences, including using his vehicle as a weapon by chasing and repeatedly ramming a taxi.
- MELTON TAXI DRIVER CALLS FOR MORE UNDERSTANDING FROM TRAFFIC WARDENS
Darryl Robson, a 64-year-old cabbie with two decades of experience, was fined £35 for waiting on yellow lines in King Street to pick up an elderly passenger.
- LLANELLI PHV DRIVER FACES LEGAL ACTION OVER LICENSING AND INSURANCE ALLEGATIONS
A local private hire driver is facing legal action after allegedly operating a private hire vehicle without the required licence and insurance.
- STEVENAGE TAXI FARES UP FOR REVIEW: PUBLIC FEEDBACK WANTED
Stevenage Borough Council is seeking public feedback on proposed changes to taxi fares and tariffs with the annual review considering three options.
- DONEGAL TAXI DRIVER JAILED FOR FOUR YEARS FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 18-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER
Paul Bryan, 63, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault that occurred in October 2017.
- LICHFIELD COUNCIL SEEKS NEW TAXI RANK AMID PEDESTRIANISATION PLANS
Lichfield District Council is proposing a significant change to the city center, including pedestrianizing certain streets and relocating the taxi rank.
