News / Aggression towards taxi driver
A MAN from Lerwick who admitted subjecting a taxi driver to a “distressing and frightening” ordeal, which culminated in him tugging at the steering wheel while the car was moving, has had his sentence deferred until January.
Jordan Palmer, of Gremmasgaet, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday to shouting and swearing at the driver, refusing to pay for a fare, seizing and pulling the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to swerve onto the opposing carriageway between Lerwick’s Esplanade and Sound Brae on 21 February.
The 21 year old also pled guilty to exiting the vehicle while it was in motion and behaving in an aggressive manner.
In the same court appearance, the Palmer also admitted possessing up to £1,000 worth of cannabis at his home address on 15 April.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the taxi incident stemmed from when a drunk and disgruntled Palmer, who had been refused entry from two Lerwick nightspots, ordered a lift.
While in the car the 21 year old told the female driver to “get a fucking move on” and began shouting. He quietened down, but he piped up again and was told he would be taken back to the taxi rank.
While near the Tesco supermarket, Palmer told the driver he wasn’t going to pay for the fare and ordered her to “turn this fucking shite music off”.
The driver was left “extremely fearful for her safety” and turned back towards town. He opened the door and went out before reaching back into the vehicle to grab the steering wheel.
The car “veered sharply, narrowly avoiding a barrier near to a primary school”.
The passenger left the taxi and the “shocked” driver managed to soon after flag down a passing police car. At around the same time, Palmer phoned 999 to say he had to jump out of a moving taxi.
“It’s difficult to articulate how distressing and frightening it was for the lady involved,” Mackenzie said.
In the cannabis charge, police executed a search warrant in Palmer’s home address and found a “large personal” quantity of the class B drug.
The 21 year old also admitted possessing a trace amount of cocaine at the same location on the same date.
Sheriff Philip Mann called for social work reports to be prepared ahead of sentencing to find out more about Palmer’s background and deferred all matters until 18 January.
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