Taxi Driver Online

Tunstall man jailed after assaulting taxi driver who ran out of petrol

DRUNK Jake Hammersley assaulted a taxi driver – because he ran out of petrol.

The 22-year-old had been drinking with a group of friends at The Rising Sun, in Hanley, on September 5.

He was on his way home to Tunstall in a taxi in the early hours of the morning.

But he stole the driver’s bag of money and hit him over the head with a bottle after he ran out of petrol.

Now Hammersley, of King William Street, Tunstall, has been jailed for 16 months.

Prosecutor Neil Ahuja told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court: “The driver was picking up a fare outside the Rising Sun, in Hanley, at about three o'clock in the morning. When he arrived there was a group of people in the street, they were arguing and swearing.

“One of the girls from the group told the driver that the men were too drunk and suggested to him that he should not take them, but three males got into a taxi.

“One of them was the defendant who was the most vocal, he was drinking a bottle of beer.

“The taxi driver asked them where they wanted to go but it became apparent that the driver had no fuel.

“He told the men he couldn’t take them and that he would request another taxi to come and get them, but the defendant became angry and abusive.

“The driver started to apologise but the defendant got out of the taxi and started to open the driver’s door.

“The complainant got out of the taxi, he realised that the cash bag was missing from the door pocket and he saw the defendant was holding the bag in his hands. The other two men walked away and had no part in what went on.

“The taxi driver asked for his cash bag back. The defendant then hit the complainant over the head with the beer bottle. It knocked the driver’s glasses off, causing them to break.

“Fortunately, there was no serious injuries.”

The cash bag contained around £100 which was the driver’s takings for the day.

Hammersley admitted theft, possessing an offensive weapon and assault by beating.

Jason Holt, defending, said: “It’s quite clearly a despicable act. His behaviour was entirely inappropriate and wrong and there can be no mitigation as far as that is concerned.

“He took an opportune moment to take the bag.

“The bottle only became offensive because of the way in which it was used. It wasn’t carried for that purpose but it was at hand at that time.”

Recorder Nigel Daly jailed Hammersley for a total of 16 months.

He said: “You turned that bottle into an offensive weapon when you hit him with it. He was fortunate not to get a serious injury.

“He was a taxi driver going about his business and it was face-to-face intimidation. Taxi drivers need protection.”

Recorder Daly added: “You have got a shocking record of convictions.”


Read more: http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Tunstall ... z3OMFeCK8Z
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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

He was warned not to take them. As for running out of fuel, "what a dribbler."

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IDFIMH