Grantham court: Taxi driver refuses to take passenger after he is racially abused

A Grantham man was racially abusive towards a taxi driver and told police the driver had refused to take him because he was a Muslim.

Jordan Doll, 22, admitted racially aggravated harassment in Market Place, Grantham, on May 15.

Prosecuting, Hannah Strawson told the court that a taxi driver approached police at about 3am and told them there was a man who had refused to leave his cab after he had been abusive.

Doyle then approached and said: “I will tell you why he did not take me. It’s because he is a f****** Muslim. He has not taken me because I am Christian and he is a Muslim.”

Doyle continued to shout and was then arrested and taken into custody. In a police interview, he admitted his behaviour was ‘inappropriate’ but said he was not racist.

Miss Strawson said Doyle had asked the driver if he was a Muslim. He was then rejected by the driver and that had made him angry.

Rob Arthur, defending, said Doyle was a young man who had consumed too much alcohol that night.

Mr Arthur said: “He was caught making comments by an officer wearing a bodycam. He wants to stress he is in no way xenophobic or racist.”

Mr Arthur added that Doyle put his behaviour down to too much alcohol and that had led him to make the comments. Magistrates fined Doyle £80 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £30.