Jailed for attack on taxi driver
A violent fare-dodger, who fractured a taxi driver’s face in four places after refusing to pay him, sobbed as he was sent to prison.
Caleb Eastwood, 24, cried in the dock at Guildford Crown Court as he was sentenced to eight months in jail on Friday.
His vicious attack, after refusing to pay the £10.50 fare, left the terrified cab driver requiring operations to his cheek and eyeball socket.
Prosecuting, Sean Sullivan told the court Eastwood and two friends were picked up by cab driver Nasir Ali in Redhill on September 13 last year.
Mr Ali took them to a travellers’ site in Merstham where they picked up a female before travelling to Bletchingley where two passengers were dropped off.
Eastwood then requested to be dropped off in Radstock Way, Merstham, but on arrival he attacked the driver when pushed for his fare.
Mr Sullivan said: “He approached the driver’s window and put his hand in his pocket as if going for money, but instead he bought out a fist and punched the driver several times in the face.”
The bleeding cabbie managed to push his panic button and wind up the window, but Eastwood punched through the glass before running off.
Police and ambulance services immediately responded to the panic call but were unable to find Eastwood.
He was later identified by CCTV and arrested.
The father-of-one pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, making off without payment and damaging property.
Defending, Edward McKiernan told the court Eastwood has a long-running alcohol problem that “needs to be addressed”. He said: “He wants to have a proper family life. He is not actively involved in criminality on a daily basis.”
Eastwood, of Pendle Camp, Merstham, was given eight months’ imprisonment for assault, three months for making off without payment and one month for damaging property. The terms will run concurrently.
Judge Michael Addison said: “Only a custodial sentence can be justified. This sort of violence must be discouraged.
“And secondly, taxi drivers, particularly those who work late at night, should be protected by the courts.”
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