Taxi Driver Online

Cabbie left scarred after fight over fare

A TAXI driver has been left scarred for life after he was beaten up by a customer in a row over the fare, a court heard today. Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard Nathan Mackay, 22, had been out celebrating the birthday of Rebecca French and taxi driver Alan Gunn picked them up to take them home.

Fiscal depute Ruth Ross-Davie said: "They got to Sinclair Place and an argument arose between Mackay and Gunn over the taxi fare of £10.50 which Mackay thought was excessive.

"Mackay assaulted Mr Gunn by repeatedly punching him to the head and knocking him to the ground. "He was attended to by a neighbour who had seen this happening. "Police arrived and noted that Mr Gunn was barely conscious at that point."

The court heard he was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and had seven sutures for a cut above his right eyebrow which will leave a permanent scar. Mackay, of Sinclair Place, Edinburgh, admitted carrying out the assault at Sinclair Place, Edinburgh, on 26 July last year.

Rebecca French, 21, of the same address, was also charged with carrying out the assault but her plea of not guilty was accepted by the Crown. Sheriff Derrick McIntyre deferred sentence until next month for background reports when pleas in mitigation will also be heard.

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IDFIMH

Nathan Mackay of Sinclair Place, Edinburgh. Sinclair place, is only a wee place. fingers crossed

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

A TAXI driver scarred for life over a £10 fare today spoke about his nightmare ordeal and says he has been left afraid to work nights.

Alan Gunn's eyebrow was torn open in the vicious and unprovoked attack, leaving the father-of-three off work for several months.

The 46-year-old black cab driver described how he was pummelled "30 or 40 times" by Nathan Mackay, 22, who has since admitted the attack, which happened outside his home in Gorgie last July.

Mr Gunn also said his attacker stood over him and laughed, saying, "Look at the mess of your face".

Mr Gunn was treated in hospital and, while recovering at home, his father died just days after the incident.

His mother died a fortnight later. Both had been ill for some time.

Mr Gunn said today: "My sister didn't recognise me in the hospital and walked past me a few times, before someone showed her to me.

"The doctors said another fraction of inch and it would have been my eye. But the worst part was I couldn't take my mum and sister to hospital to see my dad, who was very unwell by that point."

After losing thousands of pounds in earnings and having to repair damage to his taxi, a brick hit Mr Gunn's cab on the first night he returned to work.

He said: "It had been a really tough time, but that just crumbled me. I had to take time off and I haven't been able to face late-night shifts since. I used to work until 4:30am but I come home at 1am at the latest now. I used to make good money, now I just make enough to pay the bills."

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard on Tuesday how Mackay, 22, had been out celebrating the birthday of Rebecca French when Mr Gunn picked them up to take them home to Sinclair Place.

Fiscal depute Ruth Ross-Davie said Mackay had repeatedly punched Mr Gunn in the head, adding police noted he was barely conscious after the attack.

Mackay admitted carrying out the assault. Sentence was deferred to next month.


Nathan Mackay
Rebecca French, 21, was also charged with carrying out the assault but her plea of not guilty was accepted by the Crown.

Mr Gunn, who is also a grandfather of two, said Mackay appeared to blame the loss of his mobile phone and watch in another black cab on Mr Gunn, and said he was never going to pay a taxi fare again and got out of the taxi.

Describing the incident, he said: "I felt two blows from behind and then I was on the ground.

"He was kneeling on me, putting all his weight on me, and hitting me 30 or 40 times. It seemed like it went on forever.

"When it finished he stood up and laughed and said, 'look at the mess of your face ya *****'.I remember the words exactly."

He added: "The same night I was attacked my friend

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Taxi- ... 6353126.jp

This scumbag should get a long time behind bars

By way of explanation, the scumbag is the female who fuelled this pratt's ego, like some stupid females do.

I've lost count of the number of females I've come across who feed off the arrogance of numpty guys, who pander to their egos, and who ultimately end up as a victim of the guys who dominate them.

I had a young female in the car who wanted to buy something on the way home. She asked to stop at Shell Stenhouse. When I asked why this petrol station particularly she explained her boyfriend was in Saughton jail and she wanted to shout out for him in case he could hear her.

We stopped and she did.

I questioned whether she could do better, that she deserved more and she replied he was her first love, they'd been going out since school.

But this guy is not going to moderate his criminal behaviour as long as this female doesn't demand he do so. And she won't because, whether she realises it or not, he totally dominates her.

Ultimately she will be his victim, or she'll live a life of misery totally subservient and unable to break free.

That's why the assailant's girlfriend is the scumbag.




BTW Next time Alan, can I suggest you don't get out of the taxi. It's not worth going through what you did for a tenner. The perp could have had a blade. You owe it to your family to put it down to experience, move on and forget it.

We're all getting too long in the tooth to go rolling about with crazed members of the public. Better to live for the next fare than die for this one.

And remember, if you had turned the tables and stiffed this guy, it would be YOU in the frame for assault or even murder. The law wouldn't protect YOU, the cops would be on your case with a vengeance.

BTW2 Next time the council is stiffing a cabby because of an altercation with a member of the public, perhaps the councillors could remember this incident and recognise the very real risks we run?

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Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"