Taxi Driver Online

Man gets 10 months for drink and drug-fuelled attack on taxi driver

A BINGE drinker was locked up for ten months after attacking a Derby cabbie who refused to take him home.

Mohammed Shafique needed surgery on a fractured cheekbone after twice being punched by Christopher Swain, 19.

The attack took place near the Quad in Derby city centre on April 27 after one taxi driver refused to let Swain get into his vehicle.

Mr Shafique allowed him in but then got out of the cab and pulled Swain from the vehicle after finding his conduct ''unacceptable,'' Derby Crown Court heard.

This angered Swain, who admitted to having downed ''12 or 13 bottles that night and smoking cannabis,'' said Sarah Slater, prosecuting.

He twice punched Mr Shafique, who was left unsteady and fell to the ground. The assault was witnessed by a police officer who saw Swain ''agitated and waving his arms around''.

Swain, of Dayton Close, Chaddesden, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Judge John Wait told him: ''You were behaving in a way that was plainly unacceptable to the taxi driver.

''Taxi drivers are doing a sometimes difficult job at night but an essential job for the city, to ferry people who are enjoying themselves and getting them home.

''They are vulnerable and people to be regarded as a special case. An attack upon a taxi driver is a particularly serious offence.

''You carried on binge drinking and from your previous record, you have difficulties with your temper.''

Sonal Ahya, for Swain, told the court: ''His behaviour prior to being ejected from the taxi was unattractive to say the least.''

She said Swain had a job, a long-standing partner and a baby daughter. He was supported in court by his mother, who was ''tremendously disappointed in him''.

Miss Ahya added: ''He rarely goes out into town. If he does socialise, it normally means going round to a friend's house, playing on computer games and having a few beers.

''At the age of 19, hopefully maturity will seep in a little more. Looking at the way he behaved, he has a real insight and more importantly has some genuine remorse for what he did.''


Read more: http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Man-g ... z2ePSSIzv3

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Glad the scum bag has been banged up.

But the driver shouldn't have entertained the idea of taking him once the other lad binned him off.

Let the scum walk home.

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IDFIMH