Taxi Driver Online

Brentwood Gazette

July 12, 2006 Wednesday

HEADLINE: Bogus cab trip ends in assault

A Wickford man has been badly beaten after getting into an unlicensed taxi in Southend.

The man, who was returning home after a day out, got into the taxi outside Southend Victoria Station at around 11.30pm on Saturday July 8, and asked to be taken to Wickford. During the journey he fell asleep, and awoke when he was being driven down a dark alley.

The driver stopped the car, opened the passenger door, and sprayed the man in the face with an unknown liquid. He then struck him on the head with a blunt object, punched and kicked him before stealing a "a sizeable three-figure sum" of money.

The man was later found wandering down Muckingford Road in Linford, near the Essex-Kent border, at 1am. Investigating officer Det Con Nick Phillips said: "We don't believe this driver belonged to a licensed taxi firm. People should be sure they use legal taxi companies with registered drivers."

Police are looking to trace a group of teenagers who contacted ambulance services after they helped the man when they found him wandering down the road. The man was taken to Basildon Hospital where he received 14 stitches to his head wound and treatment for a beaten face. Call police on 01371 212.
..............................................................