The screams were harrowing..I regret not helping the kids

THE taxi driver who took the Southport child killer to the scene of the crime has said he regrets not helping after seeing young girls flee from the building screaming.

- BY HOLLIE BONE

Gary Poland had been criticised at the inquiry into the triple murder for not calling 999 until 50 minutes after dropping off Axel Rudakubana.

But he told the court he was not thinking straight due to a state of terror and wished he had stopped the killer - who refused to pay his £9.70 fare.

Mr Poland said: "I did what I did through fear, shock and panic.

"These are human emotions, which I couldn't control.

"I regret not helping the children. Their screams were harrowing.

"I cannot imagine what the victims and their families have been through and they have my deepest sympathies.