
A 53-year-old man has appeared in court to deny allegations that he attacked a local taxi driver with a bottle.
Derek Andrew Simpson faced Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 9 February, where he pleaded not guilty to a single charge of unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous bodily harm.
The charge relates to an incident on August 23, 2024, at a taxi rank located near Carlisle railway station.
During the hearing, a prosecutor alleged that the cabbie was working at the time of the encounter and "sustained a head wound from a bottle."
The injury was reportedly severe enough that the driver "required staples and a tetanus injection in the aftermath."
Simpson chose to have his case heard by a jury at a higher court.
He has been granted bail until his next appearance at Carlisle Crown Court on March 9.
As part of his bail conditions, the court has ordered that he must not have "any contact with the complainant in the case."

Rashid Kwabena Boachie, 44, is now on trial facing charges of rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault.

A Bolton private hire driver has had his licence suspended for eight weeks after council officials ruled he was not a "fit and proper person to hold a licence at this time."

Ceredigion County Council’s Licensing Committee is set to meet on 12 February, to discuss a proposal that could see the cost of travel rise significantly for the first time since 2022.

Fresh drainage surveys in Southampton City Centre, at a busy junction have sparked a backlash from traders and cabbies who say constant disruption is driving people away.

Kelvin Ndoro, 41, lured the victim into his car in Nottingham city centre in the early hours of the morning by offering her a lift home.

The initial phase will see 100 fully autonomous vehicles hit the roads, with plans to eventually expand the fleet to more than 1,000 taxis.

As major redevelopments such as the Avenues project and George Square upgrades move forward, the city's fleet of hackney drivers say the sheer volume of construction is strangling trade.

A Bradford private hire driver has criticised the city council after 100s of motorists fined for using bus lanes on Christmas and New Year’s Day - dates many believed were exempt from enforcement.

In October 2024, a private hire vehicle was detected speeding in Somerset. 

Nottingham firm Ideal Cars have asked PHTM to share their complaint they recently sent by email to the Access to Work team.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, 8 February, a couple of passengers approached a taxi waiting on the rank in Wigan town centre and asked for a price to be taken to a club in Bolton.

The Australian case, brought by Rideshare Drivers Network, mirrors arguments rejected by UK courts, where Uber mischaracterised its relationship with drivers in to deny their statutory rights.

The proposal is designed to modernise the licensing system, reduce duplication, and improve efficiency while maintaining all required safety, knowledge, and training standards.

At Bolton Council’s licensing committee on January 6, the council highlighted its strict stance on driver conduct, resulting in one suspension and one final warning for the operators involved.

The council is considering new rules that would require taxi & PH firms to carry out criminal record checks on all staff members and notify passengers if their driver is licensed in a different town.

The incident took place just before 1am on Wednesday, February 4, on Mardale Road, where a taxi parked on a private driveway was set on fire.

Darren McCartney, a former prison officer and hostage negotiator, appeared before the North Ayrshire Licensing Committee following objections from Police Scotland regarding his criminal record.

Drivers are proposing to scrap the percentage-based surcharge in favour of entirely new, higher fixed tariffs for larger vehicles carrying up to eight people.

The St Annes-on-Sea operator has partnered with Greenway Power Group (GPG) and the Patons Group to provide the technology, which is also being made available for public use.

Officers stormed properties on February 5, detaining a woman, 42, and a man, 46, on suspicion of fraud; a man, 22, on suspicion of handling stolen goods; nd a man, 18, on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking.
