25-year-old Billy-Joe Malston, who failed to pay for her £68 taxi fare despite being asked to do so several times, has been ordered to pay compensation to the driver.
Malston, of Lea Road in Lake, admitted a single count of making off without payment when she appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on 17th September.
Lauren McConnell, prosecuting, told the court that in the early hours of 17th April, a taxi driver picked up Malston and some friends from a pub in Ryde and drove them back to Shanklin – via McDonald’s in Ryde.
When they got to Shanklin, Malston told the driver she needed to go inside to fetch her bank card, but she didn’t return, despite the taxi driver calling her numerous times.
The court heard how the driver saw Malston on occasions after the incident and confronted her. She told him that she would pay the fare, but payment was never sent. After attempting to obtain payment several times, the driver contacted Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary.
Defending Malston, Oscar Vincent, told the court that his client had returned to pay the driver after finding her bank card but that he had already gone. He also added that Malston made full and frank admissions in Police interview.
Magistrates handed the 25-year-old a £40 fine and ordered she pay £68 compensation, £85 costs and a £16 surcharge fee.
Should have paid the £68 in the first place
Taxi’s are not a charity service, in the end it worked out
an expensive fare.
Lesson for the future pay up.
I used to be a taxi driver on the Island and dont agree with people doing a runner and not paying , but £68.00 from Ryde to Lea Road via Maccy Dees seems a bit much.r
Google the bint.
That is why I no longer use Taxi’s on the island
they take the p*ss.
The island needs Uber, much cheaper and more
reliable.
It wasn’t clear but I don’t think that was the taxi fair, it was the compensation for not paying the fair, whatever’s that was.
Totally agree, I’d expect Uber to be cheaper! How can £68 from Ryde to Shanklin via McDonald’s be justified. Talk about holding Islanders to ransom
Early hours, after midnight, plus waiting time while they faffed about getting food to fill their faces, and if more than four passengers, tariff 4. The rates of which are SET BY THE COUNCIL in 2022 after no rises for fourteen years. And yes, comparable with every other council in the country.
Dirty lowlife denying someone the payment for their work
She has loads of previous too
Google her name .
Right mess.
This mess has string if previous convictions should be shot not allowed to walk the streets.
Her parents must be so proud lol
So what is referred to as “compensation” simply means she was required to pay the fare. But the driver has had to go to all this trouble to collect his money. She has also paid costs and a victim’s surcharge but where is the penalty? She has efectively walked away scot free. What a despicable person. The usual sense of entitlement which is all but destroying society and typified Gen Z.