Mum left ‘terrified’ as taxi driver turns up with thriller man within the entrance seat
Laura Hegart was left ‘terrified’ after a taxi driver turned up with a mystery man – the men were later heard shouting as she refused to move until her daughter photographed their licence plate
Laura Hegart says she was left terrified by the incident(Image: Supplied)
A Paisley mum has praised the decision to revoke the licence of a taxi driver who arrived with an unidentified man in the passenger seat.
Laura Hegart, 50, had enjoyed dinner and a few drinks with her daughter, 26, when she booked the Renfrewshire Cab to transport them home from Whisky Joe’s Bar at approximately 9pm on Tuesday, January 27. But when the private hire taxi pulled up, she noticed there were two men inside the vehicle.
At first assuming it might be intended for another customer, she rang the taxi driver who stepped out of the car to confirm it was indeed her booking. Upon approaching the vehicle, she challenged the duo and was told by the passenger that he was ‘training’ the driver.
The taxi driver turned up with a mystery man in the front seat (Image: Huddersfield Examiner)
Speaking previously to Glasgow Live, Laura said: “I approached the car and opened the rear door and explained that there is never two males in any Renfrewshire cab. I was then told by the passenger ‘I am trainer’ to which I said absolutely not. I then informed them I would be calling the office.
“I called Paisley Cabs to inform them that two males were trying to pick up people, which is illegal and highly worrying. I was told by the office that this driver would be signed off immediately and this is not something that is allowed to happen.
“While I was on the phone, the two men started shouting at each other and tried to shut the door to leave. I refused to get out of the way until my daughter got a photo of their licence plate. I’m scared that if it was just my daughter on her own she might not have questioned it.
Laura said she contacted the police
“How many people would have challenged them if they had been out drinking. It felt sinister. When I got home, I was furious. It’s absolutely terrifying.”
Following the incident, Laura reached out to Renfrewshire Cabs who confirmed that the driver was no longer in their employment. In a statement, they emphasised that “Passenger safety is our absolute priority” and revealed that the individual “was a newly registered driver” who joined shortly before the incident.
Laura, who escalated her complaints to Renfrewshire Council, says that the driver had his licence revoked earlier this month. Speaking to Glasgow Live, she expressed satisfaction with the outcome but admitted she was still ‘furious’ over the incident which frightened both her and her daughter.
“I’m very surprised that the council took his licence off of him. It’s been a long process to get here. I don’t understand why eight months to get here,” she said. “But I’m not going to have anyone frighten my child. I am so sick and fed up of seeing women being unsafe taking these sort of taxis.
“There was absolutely no reason for another man to have been there. My daughter hasn’t got a taxi since the incident unless me or her father is with her. It was traumatising. She thought we were going to get attacked. There needs to be more checks on the people being issued these licences.”
Renfrewshire Council was contacted for comment.
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