Corsham taxi driver feared for his lifeA taxi driver says he feared for his life after a passenger became abusive and violent during a journey from Chippenham in the early hours of Sunday.
Phillip Rilley, 30, who works for LPC Taxis in Corsham, was approached by four people at a rank in Chippenham at 2.55am who asked to be taken to Melksham.
However, shortly into the journey, after Mr Rilley informed the passengers the journey would cost around £30, one shouted obscenities and threatened violence against him.
The threats continued as Mr Rilley dropped off the first two passengers and then, as the man got out in Melksham, he put his fist through the back window of the taxi.
Mr Rilley, who lives in Melksham with his wife and nine-month-old daughter, said: “As the journey went on he got more abusive and started saying he was going to kill me and that once I got to his address he would smash my face in.
"I dialled 999 and tried to leave it running, so they could hear the conversation, but they were hanging up because they couldn’t hear me.
“I feared for my life when he put his fist through the window. I’ve had people be verbally abusive before, but this was something else. He was off his head and dangerous and I was so scared.
“He acted as though he had a sense of entitlement, but I was just doing my job and working to provide for my wife and daughter. My wife worries about me quite a lot and now she’s even more frightened.”
Graham Pike, who owns of LPC Taxis, said: “These people are more than willing to drink themselves into a stupor, but not to pay the fare to take them home. “We shouldn’t have to put up with abusive behaviour.”
A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “Enquiries are still ongoing and we are taking witness statements at this time. Anyone in the area who saw anything is asked to contact police on 101.”
source:
http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/ ... _his_life/
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