Minicab driver jailed for punching 10-year-old after his car was hit by snowballA minicab driver has been jailed for punching a 10-year-old boy he suspected of throwing a snowball at his car.
Constantin Filipescu, aged 36, hit the terrified youngster in the face – even though the missile was thrown by his friend. The 10-year-old was left hysterical and unable to sleep, Plymouth Magistrates' Court heard.
District judge Diana Baker, jailing him for six weeks, said the attack back in January had a "appalling" effect.
The mother of the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she happy with the sentence.
She said after the hearing: "I think it is fair. He hurt my child. He is a changed little boy." The mother called on him to be stopped from working as a driver again.
Filipescu, of Monica Walk, Greenbank, admitted common assault against the youngster on January 22.
Gareth Warden, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the 10-year-old was among a group of children throwing snowballs at about 4pm. He said one threw a snowball which hit a passing Taxi First vehicle in Plymouth.
Mr Warden added: "The driver got out and chased the group of children. The 10-year-old remained inside the bus shelter.
"Filipescu punched him to the head and said: 'What do you think you are doing?'.He hit him a couple of times more."
He said the driver carried on shouting at him, even though the boy said he had not done anything.
The court heard his face was swollen and he had bruising on the back of his hand.
Stephen Walker, for Filipescu, said he worked hard to support his wife and daughter, having coming to this country from his native Romania five years ago.
He added he had no previous convictions and had been a teacher in his home country.
Mr Walker said it had been a normal day and he could not explain why he had reacted in the way that he had.
He said he had "specialised" in taking disabled children to and from school but had given up that work – though he still had his job.
Mrs Baker told him: "You did not stop at reprimanding the child. You did not stop at pushing that child. You hit him three times.
"The really aggravating feature is the appalling effect it has had on this young child."
The mother, speaking after the case, said: "I have seen him in a couple of times after the incident and I don't think this is right. If he could do this to a child, what could he do to someone else?
"It has changed him a bit. He is sleeping better now, but he does not like playing outside so much now."
Investigating officer PC Laura Totterdell said after the case: "We are pleased with this sentence. This is a very positive result.
"People need to know that they cannot take the law into their own hands. They cannot mete out physical punishment."
Taxi First were unavailable for comment.
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