The mother of a little girl who was left brain damaged after a crash with a private-hire says she’s “absolutely furious” that the driver is back in the profession.
Jessica Bootes was just four when she was seriously injured in a horror road crash on the A194 near Lindisfarne Roundabout, in Jarrow in March 2014.
Parents Lisa and Chris Bootes Newcastle s RVI with daughter Jessica, after her accident at age four.
The youngster, now seven, spent 11 days in a coma and had to have the left side of her skull removed, and suffered paralysis down the right side after the five-car collision.
Private-hire driver Amir Azad, of Lilac Road, South Shields, smashed into the back of the family car while they were stopped at traffic lights and was fined £250 and given six penalty points at South Tyneside Magistrates Court.
South Tyneside Council later revoked his private-hire license, but he has now secured one with Newcastle City Council and is working as a private-hire driver.
Jessica’s mum, Lisa, from Harton, South Shields, said: “I’m absolutely furious. A court deemed him unfit to drive on the roads in South Tyneside so how can he go to Newcastle and get a licence?
“This man gets to walk about every day and get on with his life when he ruined my family’s lives.”She added: “She can’t cope with being in a car for more than 10 minutes.
She doesn’t feel safe. I get panic attacks too and can’t drive long distances.
“I’m going to fight this. I don’t care what I’ve got to do or how long it takes.”
A Newcastle City Council spokesman said: “
A private hire driver’s licence application was considered and granted by the council on November 2015.
“All applications for a private hire licence must follow a robust legal framework and are considered by committee in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department for Transport and Home Office.
“Every application is subject to a rigorous checking process and is carefully considered. Convictions, cautions and driving licence endorsements are all taken into account and we rely on the Disclosure & Barring Service and DVLA vetting procedures together with advice from Northumbria Police.
Mr Azad refused to comment when he was contacted by the Gazette.
Read more at: http://www.shieldsgazette.com/
