Hugh Wade-Jones, director of high net-worth broker Enness Private Clients, which has an annual turnover of £1.5m, tried to avoid paying a cab fare after being driven home from a day of drinking with colleagues on June 22, the Ham & High newspaper reported.
Highbury Magistrates’ Court heard how Wade-Jones, whose offices are in Mayfair, had lunch in Marylebone with colleagues from Deutsche Bank on June 21 before making his way to some pubs and bars on the way to Liverpool Street.
Wade-Jones (pictured) confessed to having had “a huge, huge amount to drink” after being dropped off in Hampstead High Street, the Court heard on August 23.
The cab driver Patrick James called police after following Wade-Jones to his home in Hampstead and kept the meter running until his passenger reached the door, by which time the fare had risen to £37.
Wade-Jones denied the charge of making off without paying the fee and said he was convinced that he had already paid the cabbie an agreed fee when he jumped into the cab on Liverpool Street.
Wade-Jones said: “All along my gut reaction is I am not someone who is going to run away from taxis. I can only stand by my gut feeling, but I am not going to hide the fact that I was extremely drunk.”
District Judge John Perkins said: “By his actions, as recorded by Mr James, he was at that time trying to avoid payment for a taxi, something he would never dream of doing usually. I ask myself why he was behaving in a manner that was so out of character.
“I conclude that a huge amount of drink – as often is the case – is the cause, but I don’t find that it was to such an extent that his intention at the time was dishonest.”
Wade-Jones was ordered to pay £600 in costs, to settle the £37 cab fare and was also released on a 12-month conditional discharge.
Wade-Jones declined to comment to Mortgage Solutions.
