Taxi driver steals from blind passenger who asked for help at cash point

A taxi driver stole from a blind passenger after she asked him for help to withdraw cash from an ATM to pay for her fare.

According to the Daily Mirror, Gill Holland told Shafak Hussain she only wanted £30, but he took out £300 and pocketed the difference, a court heard.

The 51-year-old woman even gave him a £4 tip, unaware that he had ripped her off.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Miss Holland, who was with her eight-year-old Labrador guide dog Glen, had ordered a taxi to collect her from Manchester Royal Infirmary after she was admitted there during the day.

She realised she was short of money and asked if she could pay the fare at the taxi office later, but Hussain insisted they go to a cash machine and while she was able to enter her own pin, she relied on Hussain to enter the amount.

Father-of-two Hussain, 36, of Oldham, denied theft and was given a four-month suspended sentence at Manchester court. He was ordered to do 150 hours' unpaid work and pay Gill £270 compensation.

District Judge Paul Richardson told him: 'This was a very mean offence. The victim was totally blind. She relied on you and you betrayed her. The victim was totally blind and a lady who had just emerged from hospital having been unwell during the day.

'She was vulnerable and you were in a position of trust. I am glad to say you will never work again as a taxi driver. Generally such drivers are worthy of the trust put in them but you are not.'

Miss Holland added: 'Going to court was harrowing, but I was worried he'd try and do it again to someone else who was vulnerable.'

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