Drunken Telford taxi prank puts man in court
A man who drunkenly jumped into a taxi in Wellington and drove it away while the driver was not at the wheel has been ordered to do 250 hours unpaid work in the community.
Dale Carline's path was blocked by another taxi driver, though, and he was arrested by passing police officers, Telford magistrates heard yesterday.
Carline, of Stokesay Road, Wellington, admitted taking a vehicle without the owner's consent in the incident in Church Street, Wellington, last month.
The 40-year-old, who had been banned from driving for 24 months in August last year for drink-driving, further admitted driving with excess alcohol, without insurance and while banned.
He was banned from driving for three years but offered the opportunity to take a drink-driving rehabilitation course which would reduce the disqualification by 36 weeks if he completed it.
Carline was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £65 victim surcharge.
Mr Dean Easthope, defending, said: "Mr Carline says that he had too much to drink and he made a very stupid decision."
