Taxi driver praised after ‘drugged up’ gang chased nurse

ANURSE has praised the taxi driver who came to her rescue after she was chased across a road in the centre of Torquay by a group of people “on drugs” in the early hours of Saturday.

Natalie Wills was trying to get home from a night out with a work colleague and waited at the taxi rank on Cary Parade in front of the Pavilion around 1am on Saturday.

She said she started talking to a group of people who also appeared to be waiting, but realised they were under the influence, and she felt threatened and unsafe. They began approaching her and she said she saw a taxi on the other side of the road, and left to cross Cary Parade and the central reservation, and realised the group at the taxi rank were chasing after her.

The private hire taxi driver initially said she couldn’t get in, but then realised the situation and not only let her jump in, locked the doors, drove off quickly and made arrangements so Ms Wills could book the taxi she was already in and got her home safely.

Ms Wills said the incident was very scary, and added that the local council should improve the street lighting in that location. But she wanted to speak out to praise the taxi driver and the Torbay Taxis firm for rescuing her and supporting her.

“I have never felt so vulnerable in my life,” the 46-year-old said. “I had a great night out in Torquay with colleagues celebrating one of them getting a new job. I left my friends and went to the taxi rank opposite the Pavilion but there were no taxis. There was a group of people, in their 30s, sitting there too and one of them was a woman, so I thought it would be safe to talk to them.

“I asked them how long they’d been waiting and instantly realised they were on something more than just alcohol from a night out. I instantly realised they were high. Their behaviour towards me made me feel really unsafe straight away. They were asking me questions, approaching me, asking my name, I politely tried to leave and saw the taxi so started towards it across the road,” she added.

“I jumped in and begged the taxi driver to take me, but he started saying he couldn’t and I’d have to book but then he saw the group of people chasing after me across the road. I have never felt so scared, but Chris the taxi driver realised what was happening and got me out of there.

“He was brilliant, he saved me. If this driver had not been there for me I dread to think what the outcome would have been when I was crying for him to drive away.”

Ms Wills tried to report the incident to the police at 1am, but says there was a three-hour wait for a call back.