Man attacks female taxi driver in Cambridge and makes dramatic getaway - in another taxiA female taxi driver was attacked by a male passenger who flagged down a private hire car to escape – which was then pursued by the victim’s colleague.
The passenger punched the face of the Hackney cab driver in Coldham’s Lane, Cambridge, near Sainsbury’s, yesterday.
Other taxi drivers in the area stopped to come to the victim’s aid but watched in disbelief as the attacker stopped a private hire car – despite rules prevening them picking up passengers who flag them down. The car drove off just before police arrived.
The woman was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital following the attack, which happened at about 12.30pm.
Paul Bradley, a city taxi driver, was appalled by the attack – and the fact another taxi picked up the assailant.
He said: “You just couldn’t make it up. The woman taxi driver had got out of the taxi to get the passenger’s bags when he jumped into the car.
“She grabbed him and he punched her in the face. A few taxi drivers saw something was wrong and stopped and were totally amazed when the man banged on the bonnet of a private hire taxi, which actually took him and drove off.”
Mark Joyce, chairman of the new Cambridge Hackney Carriage Association, which represents almost 200 drivers, chased the taxi but lost track of the attacker, who made off on foot after being dropped off by his impromptu getaway vehicle.
He said: “I don’t think he wanted to pay his fare but after he smacked her he flagged down a private hire taxi, which took him to Northfield Avenue in King’s Hedges.
“By the time I got there he had already gone to ground.
“This was an appalling attack on one of our drivers. Thankfully she wasn’t seriously injured but was very shaken up by what happened.”
Police are appealing for information.
A Cambridgeshire Constabulary spokeswoman said: “We were called to reports of an assault on a female taxi driver at 12.30pm in Coldham’s Lane. Officers are investigating.”
The attack came just days after the association launched a new code of conduct contract named the Fare Charter Mark.
Taxis in the scheme will display the ‘charter mark’ in their vehicle’s windows.
The “contract of good conduct” states that drivers will at “all times act in a professional manner” and be “courteous” to the public.
As the News reported on Wednesday, a price book will also be introduced quoting journey fares for passengers to look at before boarding taxis.
Call police on 101 with any information on the assault.
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