A DISABLED man was refused a taxi as “he sounded drunk” despite being unable to touch alcohol because he has a form of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Brian Kinge, who lives in Brighton Hill, says he was told he could not be given a lift to his sister’s house in South Ham by taxi firm Go 470 Taxi’s as he sounded drunk when the driver called him to confirm he was outside his house.

The 50-year-old is forced to use a walking frame, suffers with fits and has a form of MS which sometimes makes his speech and movements slow.

Go 470 Taxi’s, which operates from Winton Square, in Basingstoke, has since apologised.

But Brian’s mother, Florence Kinge, said the “disgusting” incident could happen to other families and people in similar conditions to her son.

“I was absolutely fuming,” Florence told The Gazette.

“It happened on a Sunday afternoon and my son ordered a taxi to pick him up at around 3pm.

“The company called him and they said he was drunk and my son was too slow in getting to the car.”

She added: “It’s quite an assumption to make about my son.

“He isn’t allowed to drink under hospital rules and all we got was a text apology from the taxi company.

“I just worry this sort of thing could happen to other people with my son’s condition.”

In the text it confirmed the driver thought Brian was drunk and said the driver had apologised for his actions.

A spokesperson for Go 470 Taxi’s said: “We spoke to the sister of the person involved and explained what has happened.

“It is all in hand and is being looked and dealt with.”

The firm added: “We have helped this man before. A member of staff spent five minutes outside our office helping him cross a road as he struggled.”