Cabbie denies groping women

IPSWICH: An Ipswich cabbie accused of groping two passengers has claimed the women had misinterpreted his actions and intentions.

Giving evidence during his trial at the town's Crown Court Gary Mills agreed with a suggestion by prosecution counsel Joanne Eley that he had been “pretty unlucky” that two women had made complaints about his behaviour within a two week period.

Mills said he had a laugh and a joke with both women and claimed they had misunderstood or misinterpreted what he had said and done to them.

He denied acting in an in appropriate way towards either of them.

Mills, 49, of Tudor Place, Ipswich has denied two offences of sexual assault.

It has been alleged that after picking up both women Mills had been flirtatious and made suggestive comments to them.

The first alleged victim claimed that Mills had told her he had a bad back and had asked her for a massage. She claimed he had then reached towards her as if to stroke her dog but had touched her left knee and thigh.

Mills had later allegedly made a number of suggestive telephone calls to the woman after getting her number though his employer.

The second alleged victim claimed that after getting into Mills' cab she had felt uncomfortable after he made suggestive remarks.

Mills had then gone to the woman's home and had allegedly put his hands under her shirt. When the woman had covered her breast with her hand Mills had allegedly put his hand over hers and squeezed it.

Giving evidence yesterday Mills claimed he had got in touch with the first woman after she had given him her telephone number.

He denied touching her knee or thigh during the journey in his cab and said he had called her a couple of times to see how she was and what she was doing.

He admitted laughing and joking with the second woman and asking her if the fishnets she was wearing were stockings.

When he dropped her off he told her that if he was passing her house he would call in and she had said that would be fine.

He had subsequently called on her and claimed he had made a “tongue in cheek” comment along the lines of “do you want to go upstairs then?” to which she had replied “no.”

He admitted hugging the woman as he left her house but denied putting his hand under her shirt and reaching up to her bra strap.

He also denied that when the woman had covered her breast with her hand he had put his hand on top of hers and squeezed.

The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdicts today (Tues).