A disabled husband has described feeling like a 'second class citizen' after a taxi driver who was booked to pick him and his wife up drove off after seeing their assistance dog. Gavin Griffiths, 49, spoke of the ordeal he and wife Mel Griffiths, 57, went through following the incident.
The couple, who are both blind and live in Arnold, had booked a taxi in July 2021. But when the taxi arrived, the Griffiths were waiting on the pavement with their guide dogs. And the vehicle turned around and drove off, leaving the couple stranded.
Despite pleading not guilty, Rajan Anwar, 52, was convicted by a district judge of failing or refusing to carry out a private hire booking for a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog. This was after hearing evidence from Mr Griffiths and considering evidence obtained from his phone and Uber, which supported the prosecution's case.
