I'd have guessed initially that this was a saloon incident, but actually sounds like it's a purpose-built taxi, or at least some kind of bigger vehicle with a partition.
I certainly haven't been in Ayr while in the trade, but something in the back of my head says they're a bit of an oddity in that they've had black cab HCs, at least in the past, while Ayr isn't actually a huge metropolis
Ayr fare-dodger punched taxi driver and ‘danced like dafty’https://www.ayradvertiser.com/news/2646 ... ike-dafty/A FARE-DODGER punched a taxi driver after getting out and ‘dancing about like a dafty’, causing the cabbie severe injuries by knocking him to the ground.Craig Lucas pleaded guilty to assault to severe injury when he appeared for a pre-trial hearing at Ayr Sheriff Court on Wednesday, August 13.
The 34-year-old admitted striking the man to his head, causing him to fall during the incident on June 28 last year on Annfield Glen Road, Ayr.
The court heard that Lucas was picked up along with a woman at the Boswell Park taxi rank and asked to be taken to Prestwick, but no address was given.
The pair were noted to be "heavily intoxicated".
A prosecutor told the court: “The accused was singing and the complainer put the intercom on and asked him to stop."
The court heard they stopped after the woman asked to be let out, and as the complainer held the door, "the accused got out, started arguing, then brushed past and started to walk away".
The procurator fiscal depute added: “He said ‘you’ve not paid for your taxi yet’ and the accused said he had paid for it.
“The accused was described as ‘dancing about like a dafty', and then punched [the taxi driver] to the left side of his face, causing him to fall off the kerb, landing on the road.
“The accused said ‘that is embarrassing’ a couple of times. [The victim] struggled to get back on his feet and could see [Lucas] walking away.
"He got in the taxi and drove away. He continued to work for some time. He had bleeding on his elbow but 'felt fine'."
The victim stopped work the following morning due to pain from the assault.
He later attended Ayr Hospital and was found to have a bleed to the brain, as well as bruising on his elbow and constant nausea.
He then attended Ayr police office to make a statement.
Officers seized CCTV footage and arrested Lucas around a week after the incident.
The court heard the complainer still has ongoing issues with headaches.
Defence solicitor John Gallagher said his client had “a limited record”.
Sheriff Siobhan Connelly said: “This is a serious matter you have pleaded guilty to. In order to determine the appropriate sentence I will require background reports. You are required to cooperate fully."
Bail was continued for Lucas, of Craigie Road, Ayr, and he will return to court at a later date.
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