Taxi driver stole £270 from blind woman

A taxi-driver stole £270 from a blind woman passenger after she asked him to stop at a cashpoint.


And at the end of her journey to Oldham the 51-year-old victim gave Shafak Hussain a £4 tip.

Hussain (36), of Plymouth Street, Hathershaw, denied the theft, in August.

He was convicted after a trial at Manchester magistrates’ court. He will be sentenced on January 7. The court heard he has previous convictions for theft, fraud and forgery.

Miss Holly Holden, prosecuting, said Hussain had collected the woman from Manchester Royal Infirmary.

On stopping at the cash point in Newton Heath she said she wanted to withdraw £30. Hussain accompanied her, but she refused to tell him her pin number. It was claimed he keyed in £300 but on returning to the taxi gave her £30 and her card, keeping the rest of the money.

The woman became suspicious and rang her bank the next day. She was told £300 had been withdrawn.

“It was a flagrant breach of trust — this was a very vulnerable lady”, said Miss Holden.

Hussain claimed the woman had said she wanted £300 and gave her the cash. He said he saw her counting it in the taxi and didn’t know what she had done with it. He also denied asking for her pin number.

Mr Peter Casson, defending, said “Hussain is adamant he didn’t steal from her and she has got mistaken and confused.”