An Uber driver is urging Bradford Council to install CCTV cameras in the Greengates area after his vehicle was targeted by brick-throwing yobs for the second time in a fortnight.

Mohammed Khan, 40, was driving along Harrogate Road on 3 April around 8:45pm when a group of youths, some masked, hurled a brick at his car near Sainsbury's.

Recounting the incident, Mr Khan, who has been an Uber driver for seven years, described the impact as a "huge bang" that left him and his passenger "just in shock at what happened".

He revealed his distress was compounded by a similar incident just weeks prior on 21 March in Ravenscliffe Avenue, where another brick struck his car.

"Myself and the passenger were in shock and pretty distressed, especially as this had already happened to me a few weeks earlier," Mr. Khan explained.

Fortunately, the brick on Harrogate Road caused a significant dent but did not shatter the window. "I thought at the start 'has it come through the window', but luckily it didn’t," he said, adding: "The worst thing is, if I’d had my family, kids, wife with me."

Mr Khan believes the two attacks are the work of the same group of teenagers, suggesting they "are clearly targeting taxis who are trying to make a living".

He now feels anxious driving in the area, stating: "If I see a job in that area '100 per cent I don’t want to take it'." He has even started working in Leeds, finding it "safer".

Frustrated by the lack of action following his police report, Mr Khan is calling for increased surveillance. "I believe there should be 'CCTV cameras everywhere to find out who they are'," he asserted, warning that without intervention, people might feel compelled to "take it into their own hands".

He lamented the police response, saying, "I spoke to police and they can’t do anything about it because there’s no CCTV footage," and expressed concern that "if this carries on it could lead to a serious injury or worse."

In response, a Bradford Council spokesperson stated: "We work closely with the police and use our CCTV network where necessary to prevent, detect and reduce crime."

They acknowledged it was "awful" that Mr. Khan had experienced these attacks and pledged: "We will work with the police to see what local intelligence, CCTV or other information may be available to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

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A taxi driver operating at Manchester Airport has had their licence suspended following a joint operation this week aimed at ensuring compliance and public safety.

Greater Manchester Police's Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU) teamed up with City of Wolverhampton Council Licensing to conduct checks on over 30 taxi and private hire vehicles.

While four drivers were issued with compliance notices for unspecified breaches, one individual faced more serious consequences.

A spokesperson for GMP Traffic confirmed the licence suspension, stating: "Officers from CVU were working in partnership with WVProtect at Manchester Airport.

During the operation, over 30 taxi checks were conducted, with four drivers receiving compliance notices and one driver having their taxi licence suspended."

This operation underscores the ongoing commitment of police and licensing authorities to maintain high standards within the taxi and private hire industry at key transport hubs like Manchester Airport.

Further details regarding the reason for the licence suspension were not immediately available.

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A 27-year-old man from Burnley has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting to an unprovoked attack on a private hire driver who informed him of booking procedures.

Reece Rainey appeared at Blackburn Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to assaulting Shabaz Akhtar, leaving the driver with multiple broken teeth and mouth injuries.

The court heard that the incident occurred outside a booking office where Rainey approached Mr. Akhtar's vehicle seeking a ride.

Prosecutor Courtney Thompson stated: "He was told he had to go into the office and book a taxi. He initially walked away but then returned and became aggressive to such an extent two other drivers locked themselves in their cars."

According to Thompson, Rainey then turned his aggression towards Mr. Akhtar, who was standing outside his cab. "He was punched about 12 times and had no memory of what happened after the last punch until he realised one of his colleagues was running him to hospital," she recounted.

The severity of the assault was underscored by the injuries sustained by Mr. Akhtar, who suffered "five or six broken teeth" with some requiring extraction.

In mitigation, Rainey's defence solicitor, Nick Cassidy, acknowledged the gravity of his client's actions. "He has never been in trouble before and finds it very difficult to explain his behaviour on this night,"

Cassidy told the court, adding that Rainey had been drinking excessively and now "hardly drinks at all." He conveyed Rainey's remorse, stating his client "accepted it had been a disgusting incident and wished to apologise."

Despite the violent nature of the assault, District Judge James Clarke opted for a suspended sentence. Rainey received a 24-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 weeks, and was ordered to complete a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was also instructed to pay £3,000 in compensation to Mr. Akhtar, along with £85 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

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Fast-growing private hire giant Veezu, boasting a network of 16,000 drivers nationwide, has set its sights on York, applying for an operator's licence in the historic city.

The Cardiff-based company, which claims to be "Britain’s fastest growing private hire company," is currently in the process of acquiring local firm Drive Private Hire Ltd, situated on Layerthorpe.

According to a City of York Council report, Veezu's application indicates a potential fleet of over 90 vehicles operating within York. The report also highlights the company's existing significant presence in neighbouring areas, noting that Veezu "holds 115 private hire operator’s licences issued by nearby local authorities, including Leeds and Hull councils."

The crucial decision on whether to grant Veezu the licence will be made by the council's licensing and regulatory sub-committee at a meeting scheduled for Monday, April 28th.

A key consideration for the committee will be whether the applicant is deemed "a fit and proper person." The council report emphasises the importance of this assessment, stating that it is important, "as people give a lot of personal information when hiring a private hire vehicle."

Founded in 2013, Veezu has rapidly expanded through strategic acquisitions of private hire firms across the UK, including Premier Cars in Leeds.

The company's significant growth is underscored by its recent milestones, having generated "more than £1m from passenger fares in a single day for the first time" in 2023.

Furthermore, their mobile application has achieved over a million downloads, demonstrating their substantial reach and technological infrastructure. The upcoming licensing decision will determine whether York will become the latest city to see the Veezu brand on its roads.

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In a shocking act of broad daylight revenge, taxi driver Awet Teame, 32, has admitted to attempting to murder a man who had previously defrauded him out of thousands of pounds.

The brazen hit-and-run unfolded outside Glasgow Sheriff Court on March 1, 2024, the very day the victim, Bekezela Ncube, was due to stand trial for conning Teame.

The High Court in Glasgow was shown graphic dash-cam footage from Teame's own vehicle, capturing the moment he lay in wait for Mr Ncube.

Prosecutor Christopher Wilson described the chilling sequence: “While Mr Ncube was midway across the road, Teame accelerated towards him. Mr Ncube ran, but was struck on the left side of his body.

"The collision occurred while Mr Ncube was on the pavement. He was lifted up off his feet onto the bonnet.”

Miraculously, Mr Ncube escaped serious injury. Following the impact, Teame, originally from Eritrea and residing in Shettleston, initially fled the scene. However, in a bizarre turn of events, he returned to the court hours later, calmly signing in as a witness and even interacting with police officers before his arrest.

Teame pleaded guilty to the attempted murder charge on Thursday 17 April, via his lawyer Duncan McPhie, and is now behind bars awaiting sentencing in May.

The court heard that Mr Ncube had defrauded Teame out of £8,721 in late 2021, leading to Mr Ncube facing fraud charges and a trial scheduled for the day of the attack. Teame had been due to testify against him.

Prosecutor Wilson detailed Teame's calculated actions: “Teame noticed him and began to rev the engine of his vehicle... At this point, Teame drove the vehicle forward and to the left in an attempt to strike Mr Ncube as he went past. The vehicle collided with the wall in front of it while Mr Ncube ran up the steps.” The collision with the wall also damaged Teame's car.

Despite being briefly knocked unconscious, Mr Ncube alerted police inside the sheriff court. He was later treated in hospital for grazes and tenderness.

Adding another layer to the case, the court heard that Mr Ncube was eventually convicted of fraud in January 2025 and sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work, as well as being ordered to repay the money to Teame.

Advocate Mr McPhie did not request bail for Teame, and Lord Arthurson remanded him in custody pending background reports before his sentencing.

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