Hampshire taxi driver’s shock after his car windows are smashed

Dave Cogdon, 58, was going to pick up a child for the school run when he found his car's eight windows had been smashed.

The retired police officer said: "I walked to the car to go out to my school run and from the distance, I noticed every glass window of the car had been smashed and my chin hit the ground.

"My first thought was of the autistic boy who I have been driving to school and who had just got used to me, this is going to affect him as well."

Dave had parked his silver Vauxhall Astra in a lay-by near his home in Tanners Lane, Shootash on Saturday.

When he returned just after 7am on Monday, he found it had been vandalised.

He said: "To me, it’s just unnecessary stupid damage, someone who wanted to amuse themselves doing it. It’s a secluded area and there was no reason for this to happen.

"I have no idea as to why someone would want to do that."

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After taking a break during the pandemic, Dave had his first day driving the taxi again last Tuesday.

However, the incident has made him feel unsafe and has now decided to quit driving again.

He said: "I just had everything authorised for my driving, I spent about £240 for the renewal of my license and for the medical exam, and that has been a complete waste of money now.

"It filled a big gap in my life, and it gave me a routine, and now it’s gone because I don’t have the confidence to leave the car parked there."

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Roger Vivian, 67, owner Viking Cars, said: "[Dave] was back only for a couple of days, so he paid for everything to be renewed, he’s had all of those expenses and now he’s not going to get paid for it."

Mr Vivian was told by the insurance company the cost of repairing the damage was not economical and the car was written off.

He expects it will cost £5,500 to replace.