Stretford cabbie ‘terrified to go back to work’ after Wythenshawe assaultA taxi driver who needed 10 stitches in his head after being attacked by two passengers has said he has been left terrified of returning to work.
Dad-of-two Mohammad Qasim, 34, was repeatedly punched by one man as another pinned him to his seat after he refused to take the group of four passengers any further when they became verbally abusive.
Mr Qasim, from Stretford, suffered a deep gash to his forehead as well as cuts and bruises and is now appealing for help in finding his attackers.
He said: "It was very frightening. It all happened so quickly and I just didn’t know what to do.
"I’m a man just trying to earn a living so I can support my family during a recession but now it seems very emotionally difficult for me to return to work as I’d be terrified it would happen again.
"As soon as they got in the car they were being very disrespectful and one of them even grabbed the steering wheel at one point.
"I knew it was turning into a bad situation but you still never expect someone to attack you for trying to drive them somewhere and do your job.
"If they were caught it would help put my mind at ease as I don’t believe people should get away with things like this."
Mr Qasim, who has worked as a self-employed driver for six months, was attacked as one of the men returned to the car after pulling over to buy cigarettes from a petrol station on Rowlands Way, Wythenshawe.
He had picked up the two men and two women at around 2am on Saturday from the Portway pub, on Portway, Wythenshawe when they asked to be taken to Chesham Avenue in Urmston.
The attacker was white, around 5ft 5in with ginger hair and medium build while the man who restrained Mr Qasim was white, of medium build and with black hair. All four members of the group were described as being in their mid-20s.
Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 3543 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
source:
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/
Login
Register
FAQ
