Dodgy cab driver - an Italian Stallion

[Wuldric]

I've been reflecting on this for a while and do you know, I am PISSED OFF.

The scene: Manchester city centre - late, a weekday night. I wander out of this dinner that I have been landed with, and hail down a black cab to take me to the hotel. This is necessary because I know Manchester about as well as I do Ouagadougou. Which is to say, not at all,

The cab driver picks me up and I tell him where I want to go. So far, so normal. As soon as he sets off, the driver says 'So, have you ever been with an Italian Man'. I look at the locks nervously, I don't know how to respond. And then I confess that I have never had this experience but doncha know I am married and old and it's just one of those things that I am destined never to experience. How far away is the Radisson from here anyway?

The driver tells me that it will cost around £9 to get to my destination, but it will be free of charge if I shag him. I do not want to shag him. I am tired, it is late, I am married and he is old fat and nasty. And then I look at those locks again. He can lock me in to the back of a black cab. He is MUCH bigger than me. I can tell. So by now I am seriously worried. I consider telling him that I haven't shagged anyone for a decade because I am HIV positive. This is not true, by the way. The reason I discount this is because I know he will say this is not a problem because he has condoms. I consider offering him the contents of my wallet. This isn't sensible either because he can take that by force and shag me anyway. I cannot see a number anywhere - is this even legal? If I could see a number I could text someone.

So the cabby continues waxing lyrical about the joys of shagging an Italian Stallion. They go forever and guarantee pleasure. Apparently. Possibly he thinks this is banter. I am terrified, genuinely terrified. I don't know the city, I don't know where he is taking me. The doors are locked. By now I am texting everyone in my address book that I am in a cab, somewhere in Manchester with a very dodgy cab driver. This serves no purpose except to alarm everyone in my address book. I am just about to dial 999 when he pulls up outside the Radisson. I pay the bill. The taxi driver waves me off cheerily 'Next time you're in Manchester, remember the Italian Stallion'.

So it was a big heap of nothing except I spent 10 minutes of my life genuinely terrified. When I got home I told DH. He's a prosecutor. He tells me that sadly, this happens ALL THE TIME.

Well it bloody well shouldn't. How dare they? How can they do this?

If you gt his cab number, you can report him to the council.

When I was in my early 20's a taxi came to pick me and a friend up. There was no indication of it being a taxi, apart from the gumph sticker in his window, and no plates to indicate such. We sent him on his way, but took down his registration plate, and reported him to the local council. The taxi inspector guy wasn't pleased, and asked for a description of the taxi driver too.

Did you get his cab number, either number plate or taxi plate, as then you can make a complaint. If he's already had a complaint/s against him then he'd probably get in trouble/ lose his taxi plate.

Hmmm. What a horrid experience. Where was your dinner? It would be very surprising if anywhere in Manchester City Centre was a £9 taxi ride from The Radisson. You might want to add this to your complaint. A client took a taxi from the Radisson to our office and went all around the houses. It was a 200m walk as I showed him through the office windows!

Radisson may have CCTV. Ask if they can help you identify the number plate or at least the taxi/driver? And complain to local council taxi licencing?

I didn't get his number - I couldn't see one inside the cab - it was a proper black cab btw - and all I can remember is this bloke in his late forties/early fifties, very big and heavy set with a pronounced Italian accent. Which is not much to go on. When I got out I was so flipping relieved to get out that I didn't get his number.

Apparently this is commonplace. Taxi drivers are regularly prosecuted for touting for sex. News to me.