Taxi driver feared for his life during attack in Leicester
A taxi driver has spoken of his horror at being strangled, slashed and robbed by two violent passengers.
Bharat Upadhay said he suffered cuts and bruises to his face and neck after a man and a woman attacked him as he dropped them off in Braunstone Frith, Leicester.
The 48-year-old, from Rushey Mead, who has only worked as a taxi driver for four months, said he "feared for his life" during the unprovoked attack.
He said: "The man asked me to stop and I had just told him how much the fare was when suddenly I felt a rope around my neck.
"He held the rope so tight I thought I was suffocating.
"Then the woman pulled out a knife and was trying to stab me.
"I was terrified. I thought I was going to die.
"It was really scary, but I need this job as it is my bread and butter.
"I'm worried about going out at night again after what happened."
He said the attack began as he pulled over to drop off the couple in Cuffling Drive at 10.45pm on Saturday.
The man, who was sitting behind him, threw a rope around his neck and the woman, who was in the front passenger seat, began slashing at his face with the knife.
Mr Upadhay said he managed to free himself from the rope but the man then grabbed him, holding his head against the head rest while the woman began punching his head and face.
He eventually slipped free of the man's grip and got out of the car. But he was again confronted and forced to hand over his wallet before he was able to run off.
When he returned to the scene, he said his green Skoda Octavia had disappeared.
Mr Upadhay, a driver for Highfields Taxis, picked the couple up in Humberstone Gate, where the company is based.
They asked to be taken to the New Parks area.
He said: "It looked like a normal fare until I reached Dominion Road and they started telling me to go left, then right and left, then right again, and I started to get worried.
"Taxi drivers are getting attacked too often and something needs to be done. I was lucky this time."
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: "We received a call to a report of a taxi driver being attacked at 10.56pm on Saturday, in Cuffling Drive, Leicester."
He said the victim suffered injuries in the attack.
The spokesman was unable to clarify the details of the attack, or if any arrests had been made.
source:
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/
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