Minicab driver stole from blind passenger who asked for help at cashpoint!!!

A minicab driver stole from a blind woman when she asked for his help to ­take money from a cashpoint to pay the fare.

Gill Holland told Shafak Hussain she only wanted £30, but he took out £300 instead and pocketed the difference, a court heard. She even gave him a £4 tip, unaware he had ripped her off.

Gill, 51, had ordered a cab to collect her and her labrador guide dog after she had been treated at Manchester Royal Infirmary. When she realised she was short of money she asked if she could pay the fare at the taxi office later.

But Hussain insisted they go to a cash machine. And while she could type in her PIN, she relied on him to enter the amount. Father-of two Hussain, 36, of Oldham, who denied theft, was given a four-month suspended sentence at Manchester court, ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work and pay Gill £270 compensation.

District Judge Paul Richardson told him: “This was a very mean offence. The victim was totally blind. She relied on you and you betrayed her.”

Gill added: “Going to court was harrowing, but I was worried he’d try and do it again to someone else who was vulnerable.”