The cab driver who transported the Southport murderer to the dance class where he killed three young girls confessed he ‘panicked’ and sped off, thinking an armed shooter was on the loose.

Appearing today via video connection at an inquiry into last July’s murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was 56-year-old Gary Poland. The attack occurred at a Taylor Swift-themed session, also leaving ten others, including eight girls and two adults, seriously wounded.

Mr. Poland recounted hearing four or five loud noises after dropping off 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who later confessed to murder during a trial earlier this year, and presumed he had a firearm, attacking people.

The cab driver admitted he called his ‘best mate’ and took another fare before eventually calling 999 some 50 minutes later.

He said that, with hindsight, he wished he had stopped to help the girls but claimed he was ‘in complete mortal terror and shock.’

‘I did what I did through fear, shock and panic,’ he said. ‘These are human emotions which I couldn’t control.’

He added: ‘I regret not helping the children, their screams were harrowing.

‘I cannot fathom the anguish of the victims and their families, and my condolences are with them. Not a day goes by that I don’t ponder that day and the “what ifs.” What if I had alerted the police? What if I had exited the vehicle? What if I had detained him for not settling the fare?’

‘I concede I might have taken additional actions, but I believe my conduct as a cab driver was appropriate. This was a disastrous incident that should never have occurred.’

The inquiry has heard that Mr Poland, who worked for One Call Taxis, picked up Rudakubana from his home, in Banks, a village around five miles from the seaside town, around 11.30am on July 29 last year.

The then 17-year-old, who used the fake name ‘Simon’ to book the cab, was wearing a Covid-style face mask and distinctive green hoodie, with the hood pulled up.

Mr Poland, who has been a cab driver for 27 years, said Rudakubana barely spoke during the journey but this didn’t raise any concern as he regularly picked up people who preferred to wear masks and he assumed he was a carer who was going to pick up his car from the garage next door to the Hart Space where the attack took place.

But when the taxi pulled up outside the dance studio, Rudakubana got out without paying.

Mr Poland said he remonstrated with him, but he walked away and into the studio.

The inquiry was told that sounds of distress were captured on Mr Poland’s dashcam just 29 seconds later.

In their opening statement last week, families of the murdered girls raised concerns about the actions of Mr Poland. 

Their lawyer told the inquiry, sitting at Liverpool Town Hall, that it must evaluate whether he had a moral responsibility to take ‘protective action’ and dial 999.

The then 17-year-old, who was jailed for a minimum of 52 years earlier this year, used the fake name ‘Simon’ to book the cab and was wearing a Covid-style face mask and distinctive green hoodie, with the hood pulled up.

The inquiry has heard that Mr Poland, who worked for One Call Taxis, picked up Rudakubana from his home, in Banks, a village around five miles from the seaside town, around 11.30am on July 29 last year.

Rudakubana barely spoke during the 14-minute journey and, when the taxi pulled up outside the dance studio, he got out without paying. Mr Poland remonstrated with him, but he walked away and into the studio, where he started stabbing the girls.

The inquiry was told that sounds of distress were captured on Mr Poland’s dashcam just 29 seconds later.

Mr Poland told the inquiry earlier this week, via a statement, that he was in ‘complete shock’ and drove away because he was worried Rudakubana had a gun. 

His wife, Lynn, previously told the Sun that he was ‘devastated’ by the attack and ‘feels responsible.’

‘He feels terrible,’ she said.

Rudakubana admitted murder and was jailed for a minimum of 52 years at Liverpool Crown Court, in January. 

The inquiry, due to last until November, continues.