Swansea man left with £213 bill for unpaid £8.70 fare

A MAN who took a taxi with no intention of paying the driver has been left with a £213 bill by magistrates for refusing to pay the £8.70 fare.

Tinashe Kaseke, 30, pleaded guilty to an offence under the fraud act after admitting he never intended to pay the taxi fare.

Julie Sullivan, prosecuting at Swansea Magistrates' Court, said Kaseke had been picked up by a taxi driver in Caer Street, Swansea, and was drunk.

Kaseke asked to be taken to Clyne Court in Sketty. The fare was run up to £8.70 but when they arrived, Kaseke began looking through his wallet, pulling out empty receipts and cards, but no cash.

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He told the driver he would make a phone call to arrange for his girlfriend to bring the money but no-one appeared.

The driver had also tried knocking on the door of the flat Kaseke said his girlfriend lived at, but there was no reply.

The driver decided to take him to Swansea Central Police Station to see if he would pay when he arrived there.

Kaseke, of Gordon Thomas Close, eventually told police he had not intended to pay.

Grayson Tanner, for Kaseke, said: "He was under the influence of alcohol."

He said his client was a student at Swansea Metropolitan University.

"He's very much willing to pay the compensation of £8.70 and make things right," added Mr Tanner.

Kaseke was fined £100, told to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

He was also told to pay compensation to the driver of the £8.70 fare.