Cabbie's Terror In Gang Attack
10 October 2009
Another taxi driver has been attacked in a Halifax street.
A gang of three pinned down the terrified cabbie in Ashville Gardens, Pellon, and stole his takings.
The robbery comes after driver Amjad Farooq, 35, was brutally beaten after picking up a fare in the same street five months ago.
After that attack, the father-of-two was found staggering along isolated Raw End Road, Luddenden.
He suffered severe facial injuries and his car was stolen.
Now cabbies say the Pellon estate is fast becoming a no-go zone.
Arshad Mahmood, treasurer of Calderdale Private Hire Association, said: "It is shocking to have another attack from a fare in Ashville Gardens. We are just thankful that the latest driver was not injured. But these attacks must come to an end."
Drivers say they are now wary about where they pick up fares on Ashville Gardens, with some addresses boycotted altogether.
Sajjad Majjid, a 44-year-old driver for A Star Taxis, said: "We are now very careful when we have to go there. Just a few days ago a driver refused to pick up a fare because there were men acting suspiciously when he arrived.
"We will only go to Ashville Gardens for certain customers and there are some houses banned by us altogether."
Detective Inspector Tony Nicholson said: "We take this kind of crime very seriously and have a good record for securing custodial sentences for offenders.
"We will find the people behind this robbery."
He urged taxi drivers and their employers to take every measure they could to ensure their safety.
Anyone who witnessed the latest attack in Ashville Gardens, at 1am on Friday, should call Calderdale CID on 01422 337085 or Crime-Stoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
The three suspects were described as white and in their 20s.
Source; HalifaxCourier.co.uk
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