A taxi driver has had his license revoked after he fled the scene of a fatal attack at a children's dance class, admitting he drove away after hearing "an awful orchestra of blood-curdling screams" and what he believed to be gunshots.
Gary Poland, 56, was found to not meet the appropriate standards for a taxi driver by Sefton Council, leading to the revocation of his license. The council confirmed the decision, though specific reasons for such revocations are not publicly disclosed. Poland had driven Axel Rudakubana, the perpetrator of the Southport triple murder, to the Hart Space, a venue where young girls were attending a holiday club on July 29, 2024.
Rudakubana, then 17, killed Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9. Ten others, including eight girls and two adults, were seriously injured in the attack. Rudakubana was subsequently jailed for life with a minimum term of 52 years.
Poland recounted hearing four or five loud bangs and seeing children fleeing the building in terror. He told a public inquiry in September of the previous year that he drove away in "complete mortal terror and shock," fearing Rudakubana had a gun. He admitted he did not stop to help the children and instead called his best friend, Julian Medlock, before taking another fare and eventually calling emergency services nearly an hour after the incident.
In a statement to the police, made around six hours after the attack, Poland described the children's screams as "terrifying" and "the most awful sound." He stated he was in a state of "complete mortal terror and shock" and observed a "massed huddle of children" running from the building "like a stampede for their lives."
Despite these observations, Poland proceeded to pick up another fare. During a conversation with his friend, recorded on his dashcam, Poland said he heard "these f******* shots and I just f****** shot off Jim… Lucky he didn't f****** shoot me, weren't it?" He later claimed he accepted the next job "by accident," stating his head was not in the right place.
The inquiry heard that Poland's delay in reporting the incident did not significantly hinder the emergency response, as the dance teacher, Leanne Lucas, who was critically injured, managed to call for help herself shortly after the attack began.
Chris Walker, a director at law firm Bond Turner representing the bereaved families, stated that the families "welcome the decision" to revoke Poland's license, viewing it as a "necessary step towards securing individual accountability."
Poland had picked up Rudakubana, who used the fake name "Simon" and wore a face mask and green hoodie, from his home. The journey lasted 14 minutes. Rudakubana left the taxi without paying. Poland stated he remonstrated with Rudakubana and threatened to call the police, but the teenager entered the dance studio. Sounds of distress were captured on Poland's dashcam approximately 29 seconds later.
Poland, a taxi driver for 27 years, has reportedly suffered psychological issues since the attack and now avoids picking up unknown fares, stating, "I can't sleep at night. I shut my eyes and I see his face, it's there all the time in my head."
In May of the current year, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy announced reforms to the youth justice system, proposing that parents and guardians could face jail time if they do not take steps to prevent their children from committing crimes. These proposed changes follow a report that suggested the Southport attack might have been prevented if Rudakubana's parents had intervened, as they were aware of his hoarding of weapons for at least a year without taking action. A public inquiry also cited catastrophic failures by various agencies, including police and social services, in allowing the situation to escalate.