Yob punched taxi driver in fare rowA YOB punched a taxi driver in the face and damaged his glasses in a vicious late night attack.
Gary Naylor, aged 20, of Blackburn Road, Bolton, avoided being sent to prison after pleading guilty to assaulting Gary Gibson and damaging his glasses.
Mr Gibson, a driver for Metro Cars, had been called to an address in Hillfield Drive, Tonge Moor at 4am on Sunday, March 24, Bolton Magistrates’ Court heard.
He asked Naylor to pay for the fare up front, but he refused and said: “You are taking me”.
Naylor tried to grab Mr Gibson’s radio before taking off the driver’s glasses and damaging them, before throwing them back on the passenger’s seat.
He also punched Mr Gibson in the face, the court heard.
Naylor fled but staff at Metro in Tonge Moor Road spoke to him after calling the number where the booking was made from.
He told the Metro caller they would “have to find him”, when he was told police wanted to speak to him.
Leigh Morgan, defending, said Naylor had a difficult upbringing in foster care and at boarding schools.
She added that he needs help with housing and his drinking problem.
She said: “Two weeks in custody has been a short, sharp, shock.”
Stephen Paine, chairman of the bench, sentenced Naylor to a 12 month supervision requirement, ordered him to comply with a Thinking Skills Programme and to comply with a four week curfew to remain at his father’s home between 5pm and 7am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
He was also ordered to pay the court £495 and Mr Gibson £50 compensation for his glasses and £50 for the assault.
Nick Astley, managing director of Metro Cars, said: “Gary Gibson is one of our older drivers, he is in his 60s.
“I thought he would have stopped being a driver but he has carried on, he is a trooper.
“Nine out of 10 people do not get caught when they attack taxi drivers.
“In this instance the magistrates have done a good job, it’s a good result.
“All we want is for him to learn from his mistakes.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/loc ... _fare_row/
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