Angry taxi driver smashes through airport parking machines after demanding £4 to take his mother away

Atif Amin became furious after being charged £4 to drop his mother off at Glasgow Airport despite having a disability card, and caused £2,700 damage after crashing into a parking meter

A taxi driver saw red after being charged £4 for using an airport pickup lane and smashing up a parking meter with a flashlight.

Angry Atif Amin erupted at Glasgow Airport causing £2,700 damage.

He became angry after being told he had to pay the fee to use the facility, despite insisting his disability card gave him free access to the NCP car park. EdinburghLive reports.

Amin hit the machine and then smashed it four times with a flashlight before relenting and paying the entry fee to drop off his mother.

Prosecutor Amber Feeney reported the incident to Paisley Sheriff Court around 5:20 a.m. on January 4 last year.

She explained: “Witnesses were working at the NCP headquarters when the defendant’s car approached the drop-off and pick-up point and pressed the intercom.

“He was told he had to pay £4 to use the drop off and pick up area.

“Amin shared that he was deposing his mother and that he had issued a disability card.

“The witness went on to state that the badge did not allow for a payment exception and the defendant became angry and began banging his fist on the screen.

“Amin then grabbed a flashlight from his vehicle and smashed the display four times, shattering it.”

The court heard the aggrieved father of two and then paid the £4 parking fee to gain access.

Ms Feeney added: “Police have been contacted about the damage to the machine. The damage totaled £2700.

“The police looked at the CCTV and wrote down his registration number, and when he questioned the defendant, he said, ‘The parking attendant refused to lift the barrier.’ He was not warned and charged at this time.”

Kirsty McGeehan, who defended herself, told the court Amin thought his disability card gave him free access.

Ms McGeehan said: “In his view, disabled card holders are allowed into NCP car parks without paying. According to him, the park worker was confrontational and was told he had to park and pay his fees. There are no signs at the airport to show disabled parking fees.”

Sentencing Sheriff Eoin McGinty said: “This was a very expensive parking spot for you as you now have a £2,700 indemnity order to pay.”

Sheriff McGinty ordered Amin to pay £2,700 in compensation of £120 a month.