Charity boss guilty of racial abuse after row with taxi driver

Susan Dimmock, deputy chief executive of Steps To Work, was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment after a trial.

The charity, which receives funding from the EU and the National Lottery, helps people in the Black Country and Staffordshire get in to work through training and advice.

Dimmock, 52, of Edmonton Close, Cannock, abused taxi driver Muddasar Ali, who drove her home on the night of October 31.

She denied racially aggravated harassment, but was found guilty by magistrates after a trial last Thursday. She was fined £623 and told to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and court costs of £362.

Andrew Dimmock was also found guilty of two charges in relation to the same incident.

Andrew, 50, of the same address, was in the taxi. Following a conversation between the couple and Mr Ali, it was alleged he grabbed the driver’s radio equipment, breaking his bluetooth device. It was said he also ripped the driver’s display licence.

He was convicted of assault and criminal damage by magistrates. He was fined £173 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30, £25 compensation and £362 court costs.

Walsall-based Steps To Work was set up in 1999. The charity claims to have helped 34,000 people in to employment since its founding. Chief executive James Walsh said: “As the chief executive officer of Steps to Work I can assure you that we are conducting an internal investigation into this matter.”

The charity works alongside many well known organisations, including Beacon Centre for the Blind in Wolverhampton and Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council.

The Dimmocks were unavailable for comment.