Drunk student crashed taxi in fare row

Drunk student crashed taxi in fare row

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/headlines/Drunk-student-crashed-taxi-in.5664534.jp

A DRUNK student got into the driving seat of a taxi and drove it into a wall – after yelling racist obscenities at the cabbie about a disputed fare, a Sheffield court heard.
Patrick Chilton, aged 19, had been on a night out in Sheffield in May when the argument broke out.

He and three friends ordered a taxi to take them to Endcliffe Vale Road, where they were going to stay with friends.

But on the way one of the group wanted to stop to get a pizza, and a row ensued about the fare. The driver wanted to increase the £6 he had quoted because the food stop had taken so long.

Stephen Acaster, prosecuting, told Sheffield Magistrates' Court the row continued after the group was dropped off outside Endcliffe Student Village at 2.40am. The driver got out of the taxi and Chilton, yelling racist obscenities, got in – and drove it straight into a wall.

He and his friends then ran into The University of Sheffield accommodation building, where police arrived shortly after.

In a statement to police officers, read out in court, Chilton said
he "deliberately" drove the car into the brick wall "out of anger at the taxi driver's attitude".

Chilton, studying in Leeds, pleaded guilt to charges of racial aggravation, drink driving, and driving without insurance.

The court heard Chilton admitted his guilt to police at the scene, and took the blame for his friends' actions. He was the only one charged.

He was said not to "harbour racist feelings", and that instead his actions were down to the amount of alcohol he had drunk.

District Judge Sheila Driver sentenced Chilton, of Highfield Drive, Stockton-on-Tees, to 200 hours' community service, ordered him to pay £350 in compensation to the taxi driver. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

She warned him he may be pursued for further costs through the civil courts.