Five years in jail for thug who slashed minicab driver in Low Moor attackA violent criminal who went on the run after slashing a Bradford minicab driver in the face has been jailed for more than five years.
John Boyd left father-of-nine Mohammed Saleem scarred for life in the attack at dead of night in Cemetery Road, Low Moor, on March 11.
Mr Saleem, 59, who had worked for Jenny’s Private Hire, in Halifax Road, Bradford, for six weeks, was knifed across the lip and cheek and suffered defensive wounds to his hands.
Boyd, 34, of Fenwick Drive, Buttershaw, Bradford, pleaded guilty in August to wounding Mr Saleem with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.
He failed to turn up for sentence at Bradford Crown Court on September 13 and was arrested and bailed to last Friday. Boyd again jumped bail and was picked up by the police on Monday. He spent the night in the cells and was brought to court in custody yesterday.
Prosecutor Abigail Langford said that on the night of the attack Mr Saleem collected Boyd from the Gaping Goose pub at around midnight. He had a scarf round his face, his hood up and no money for the cab fare.
About half a mile into the journey, Boyd put his hand into Mr Saleem’s jacket pocket. There was a struggle and Boyd struck the driver in the face with a four-inch bladed penknife, causing a wound that bled heavily and needed stitching at Bradford Royal Infirmary.
Mr Saleem tried to seize the knife and suffered a cut finger and thumb.
Boyd fled the taxi and dumped his clothing in a bin in the cemetery.
Mr Saleem rang his private hire base, saying: “He’s attacked me, my face. He had a knife. Ring the police.”
Miss Langford said he was shaken and mumbling down the phone.
Boyd had convictions for wounding and assault and he had served five and a half years for aggravated burglary.
His solicitor advocate, Anne-Marie Hutton, said he jumped bail because he knew he was going to jail.
He wanted to avoid paying the cab fare and for a brief moment intended to harm the driver. He was fuelled by alcohol when he attacked Mr Saleem.
Boyd was jailed for five years for knifing Mr Saleem and three months, to run consecutively, for the Bail Act offences.
Mr Saleem, of Great Horton, said: “I am happy with the outcome and with the way police have dealt with it. I think it is a long enough sentence, and the legal system has seen it as appropriate.”
Mr Saleem returned to work briefly following the incident, but a combination of pressure from his worried family, his own fears and a mild stroke led to him giving up the job.
“I was on edge,” said Mr Saleem. “I was anxious. I was not comfortable driving or doing the job. I had a duty of care to get passengers from A to B. I was racially abused, so when I looked at people I thought what are they going to be like?”
source:
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... or_attack/
Login
Register
FAQ
