Former England under-18 rugby star punched Plymouth cabbies
A FORMER under-18 England rugby international punched two taxi-drivers on a night out in Plymouth, a court heard.
Plymouth Crown Court heard that Ryan Shahin, now 23, was one of four men who got into a taxi on March 4 last year.
The driver asked them to leave as he was not yet in service, but Shahin kicked the back of the seat and punched him in the eye.
He also punched another cabbie who came to his aid.
The court heard that Shahin, of Mannamead Road, Plymouth, was doing a Masters degree in Sports Science at Leeds University, but was currently serving an eight-month jail sentence in Leeds for wounding.
Ali Rafati, for Shahin, said his client was a talented athlete who had played rugby for England at Under-18 level and came from a decent family.
"In drink, he behaved in an appalling way on two occasions," he said.
His client was due to be released from jail on June 27, and hoped to return to university in time to complete his studies, he said.
Judge Francis Gilbert QC sentenced Shahin to two months in jail on each count of common assault, which Shahin had admitted, saying this would not affect his release date because they will run alongside his current sentence.
He ordered him to pay the first taxi-driver £625 to compensate for lost wages, the second £100 and to pay prosecution costs of £1,600.
Source Evening Herald
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Ex ... ticle.html
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