Failure to pay £20 taxi fare leads to £1,000 fine in court

A 24-year-old offshore worker has been fined £1,000 after admitting striking a policewoman who was called to deal with him after he failed to pay a £20 taxi fare.

Appearing from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court this afternoon, Kevin Norquay, of Otterswick, Kirkwall, admitted resisting arrest and lashing out, and striking a police officer in the face, in the car park outside Kirkwall Police Station on Saturday, May 19.

Norquay also pleaded guilty to obtaining a taxi to Burray without paying, or intending to pay, the £20 fare.

Defending, Georgette Herd said that when interviewed by officers, Norquay had been “genuinely sorry” and apologised to the officer involved.

Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood fined Norquay £800 for striking the officer and £200 for the taxi fraud, giving Norquay two months to pay.