Hard as nails, the drivers in Carlisle
Haven't read this in great detail, but seems to be at least one minor error in the narrative
Carlisle cabbie assaulted by fare-dodging passenger fought backhttps://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/2644 ... ught-back/A BRAVE Carlisle taxi driver who was assaulted by a drunk passenger after the man had refused to pay his fare fought back, biting his attacker on his wrist.When he was later arrested and questioned by the police officers, 28-year-old Sheldon O’Neil blamed his victim, falsely claiming that it was the driver who had assaulted him because he was refusing to pay the £28 fare.
But the defendant later admitted his guilt.
He pleaded guilty to an offence of “making off without paying” and an assault by beating. At the city’s crown court, prosecutor Tanya Elahi outlined the facts.
The defendant, of Briar Bank, Belah, was among three men who hired the victim’s taxi at 9pm on March 29, 2024, driving the trio from a residential address to Fusehill Street, where one of the three men was dropped off.
The remaining passenger asked to be taken to other properties, before returning to the street where the journey began.
As they were travelling, the driver heard the men discussing plans to collect money. When they reached their original location, the second man left the taxi, leaving the driver alone with O’Neil.
“[The driver] asked the defendant for the £28 taxi fare and, instead of paying, the defendant grabbed him from behind and placed him in a headlock, with his right arm across his [the driver’s] throat,” said Ms Elahi.
“In an attempt to free himself, he bit the defendant on the wrist.”
O’Neil pulled away, and the driver told him to get out of the taxi, at which point he locked his doors and began to drive away. As he did this, O’Neil punched the driver’s window and kicked the taxi.
It was during his police interview that O’Neil attempted to blame the driver, claiming that he was the victim of an assault.
Outlining the driver’s victim impact statement, Ms Eliah said he had suffered such a strong anxiety reaction that he was now considering changing jobs.
The court was then told about O’Neil’s criminal record.
It contains 28 previous offences, including crimes of violence and dishonesty. He was said to have been intoxicated at the time of the assault.
Kim Whittlestone, defending, said O’Neil was himself the victim of a serious assault in 2025, which was still being investigated. His injury was so serious he was unable to carry out elements of his previous suspended sentence.
Recorder Ciaran Rankin highlighted the negative effect on the victim, who was now reflecting on whether he could carry on working as a taxi driver.
But O’Neil had shown some remorse.
The judge imposed six months jail, suspended for a year. The sentence includes 25 rehabilitation activity days and 60 days of alcohol treatment. In custody for the hearing, the defendant was told he would be imminently released.
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