Cabbie prosecuted over dog snub

A private hire driver has been ordered to pay £2,175 after he refused to let a partially sighted woman and her assistance dog into his vehicle.

Jarnail Singh, of Slough, was booked by a hotel but when he arrived he said he was not allowed to take the dog.

Slough council was contacted last July and prosecuted the 45-year-old under the Disability Discrimination Act.

He was found to have committed an offence at Bracknell Magistrates Court on Friday and fined a maximum £1,000.

Singh, who failed to attend court, was also ordered to pay £1,175 in costs.

'Serious offence'

Under the act, drivers cannot refuse to carry registered assistance dogs unless they have applied for and been granted an exemption certificate on medical grounds.

Singh, of Goodman Park, had neither applied for, nor been granted, this exemption, the court was told.

Mick Sims, licensing manager for Slough Borough Council, said: "This is a very serious offence and breach of the act that we will not tolerate.

"We're extremely pleased with the result as it's our first prosecution of this type.

"We hope the case serves as a warning to all other licensed drivers to ensure they operate fairly and within the law."

Councillor Shafiq Chaudhry, commissioner for community and leisure, said: "Disability discrimination is an extremely serious matter.

"It's important residents feel confident that the council is doing everything it can to ensure drivers who breach the act are prosecuted."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/berkshire/7853388.stm