Nelson taxi driver accused of abducting fare

6:28pm Wednesday 21st May 2008

A NELSON taxi driver took a woman hostage before dumping her miles from her home, a jury heard.

Mahza Khan faces an abduction charge after a dispute over a fare.

Khan, of Carr Road, is alleged to have punched Deborah Mellor after dumping her at the Warrington-Widnes border.

The cabbie, 38, denied robbery and kidnap offences at Warrington Crown Court.

Ms Mellor, from Widnes, was on her way home from a night out with her sister, Emma Chadwick, and went for a taxi at Warrington railway station.

When the women prepared to get out of the cab at Widnes, Ms Mellor got into a dispute with Khan after he charged £14.50 - a price that was more than the usual the cost of the journey.

Ms Chadwick told how she saw the car reverse and drive off with her sister a hostage. Khan was said to have stopped minutes later near a power station.

Prosecutor Rhys Rowlands said: "He went to the back (of the car) and dragged Deborah by her hair and threw her to the ground and then followed a short struggle, when he punched her. She gave up and handed her handbag over.

"He took out all of the notes then he got back in his taxi and drove off, leaving her in the middle of nowhere."

But Ian Metcalf, defending, said: "He said that he asked for the correct fare. He said that as he drove off she attacked him.

"He said that having done so she then handed over £15 and he gave her 50p change.

"He says there is no question of him using force to steal from her."

(Proceeding)

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