Posted on the 13th August 2026 in PHTM News

BATH MAN FINED AFTER LAUNCHING RACIST TIRADE AT TAXI DRIVER

A sixty-year-old man who launched a tirade of racial abuse at a taxi driver after being challenged for allegedly operating as an unregistered cab has been handed a fine in court.

Stephen Woods appeared before Bath magistrates on Wednesday, August 5, following the ugly confrontation that unfolded on May 10 outside the Bath Spa railway station.

The court was told that the incident began when a licensed taxi driver started taking photographs of Woods at the station rank, acting on instructions from a council taxi official following complaints that Woods was illegally picking up fares without being licensed.

The confrontation later spilled over to the forecourt of a nearby service station, where Woods hurled racist slurs at the driver in front of horrified onlookers, with part of the abuse captured on a mobile phone video.

During the outburst, Woods told the victim: "This is not your country. Go back to your country. This is my country."

Police were subsequently called to the scene and arrested Woods, who then directed xenophobic remarks at the arresting officers by asking: "Why don’t you go down to the beach and stop all these immigrants from coming in?"

Woods, a local resident, pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated offence involving threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

His defence solicitor, Lisa Rowley, explained to the magistrates that her client had originally been at the station to collect a friend's autistic children and grew anxious when he realised he was being photographed, noting that he struggles with anxiety and various health issues.

Addressing the court directly, Woods offered an apology to the magistrates, stating that he had been "anxious about what is happening in this country".

Magistrates ordered Woods to pay a total of £197, comprising an £80 fine, £85 in prosecution costs, and a £32 court surcharge.


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