5:20pm Friday 29th January 2010
By John Hoskins
A CABBIE cleared of raping a drunken student in his taxi told today how it had destroyed his life.
Lance Bradley admitted having sex with the 19-year-old in the back of his car after he picked her up from Southampton’s Leisure World complex where she had been celebrating a friend’s birthday.
Jurors took just an hour to acquit him and now he wants his job back.
Today his union gave Mr Bradley, who has been suspended for nine months, their full backing to return to work but his conduct could still prevent him regaining his licence from Southampton City Council if it is deemed to have fallen below standards expected of drivers.
The case has also led to calls for a new code of conduct to be established for drivers.
The city crown court heard that after picking the teenager up outside Oceana club, Mr Bradley switched off his GPS system that links him with his controller before allegedly raping her on her way home in St Denys.
Self-employed Mr Bradley, 52, admitted he had consensual sex with her in the back seat of his Radio Taxis cab in a rugby club car park but insisted the student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had instigated it.
“It has destroyed my family life,” he confessed. “I wish I had never clapped eyes on her.”
Afterwards the cabbie, who lives in Sandpiper Road, Southampton, spoke of the cost of what happened that night With tears welling in his eyes, he said his wife had been financially supporting him after he had his licence revoked by the City Council.
“This has been hanging over my head for nine months. I couldn’t get any money. It’s the first time I have been put in this position during my 27 years as a taxi driver.
“I shall certainly be applying for my licence back.”
A spokesman for Southampton City Council said: “Licensing officers and possibly the licensing panel will have to take into account the circumstances surrounding the suspension, including conduct and suitability for the post, before they reissued a licence.”
Deputy council leader Royston Smith said it was right that consideration was given to his conduct through the licensing procedure and that he would welcome a discussion with the trade about establishing a formal code of conduct for drivers.
“I think it would be useful, as this case does raise issues over the fit and proper person test, to have discussions with the trade about establishing a code of conduct that would set out what it expected.”
Radio Taxis managing director Graham Wilkins said if the council deemed him a fit and proper person and reissued his license he would be free to drive their cabs again.
Perry McMillan, chairman of Southampton cab section of Unite said: “I would give Lance my full backing to come back to taxi driving. He has had an impeccable record for over 20 years and yes, he made an error of judgement but he has suffered for it with this accusation against him.”
He added that he would be asking Mr Bradley to speak at a union meeting to serve as a warning and educate other drivers of the consequences of a lapse of judgement.
Mr Bradley hopes he can also now patch up his marriage.
“I have done something wrong to my wife. I have paid a price. She doesn’t want to live with me for a while, while we work things out. I want us to get back together, I still love her.”
Additional reporting by Sian Davies
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