Former Wirral marine who starred on the Apprentice in court for assault on taxi driverA FORMER Royal Marine who starred on the Apprentice assaulted a taxi driver after a heated verbal exchange saw him and his girlfriend “kicked out” at the side of a busy Wirral motorway.
Upton man Christopher John Farrell said he “deeply regretted” the way he had behaved following the incident in Seacombe on November 22 last year.
The 31-year-old – who was fired from series 6 of the Apprentice - pleaded guilty to assaulting Fildus Vincent when he appeared at Wirral Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The court heard that Farrell – who served with the Royal Marine for 10 years and now works for a Manchester-based company providing security to the shipping and maritime industry – had been on a night out with his girlfriend, having consumed a bottle of wine and a “beer or two”, before calling a taxi.
Prosecutor Alan Currums told magistrates there had been an argument between Farrell and Mr Vincent inside the vehicle, which culminated in both Farrell and his girlfriend being “kicked out” of the taxi.
The court heard that Farrell was then verbally abusive towards Mr Vincent before punching him in the mouth, causing swelling to his upper lip.
He was then arrested at the side of the road after a police officer saw the taxi parked on the hard shoulder of the exit slip road of the Kingsway tunnel, close to junction one of the M53.
Both Farrell and his girlfriend were found walking down the road metres from the car.
Magistrates heard that Farrell had served with the Royal Marines for 10 years, with references praising him for his bravery, loyalty and trustworthiness during that time.
Farrell has previous convictions of drink driving, fraud and carrying an offensive weapon.
Gerry Pachter, defending, said: “Mr Farrell deeply regrets his behaviour on that night, is very remorseful and doesn’t dispute the facts.
“He says there was a bit of animosity and doesn’t say the taxi driver was particularly pleasant in the build up to what happened.”
The court heard the row had stemmed from an initial incident at the tunnel toll booth in which Farrell said the taxi driver had “slammed” the money into the coin bucket in a way he felt was “a bit aggressive” and gave his girlfriend a shock.
“The taxi driver seemed to have a bit of an attitude problem according to Mr Farrell,” said Mr Pachter.
“Mr Farrell recognises that he should have turned a blind eye and gone home and ignored it.
“He kicked them out of the taxi – this is what really got him. It was late, it was dark, it was an unsafe area just coming off the motorway near to junction one near B&Q.
“Him and his girlfriend were kicked out of the taxi and he did punch him once in the mouth – he dealt with it in the wrong way.”
A punishment of unpaid work was originally recommended but Mr Pachter said while his client was willing to complete such an order, he would be limited by the nature of his job, which often sees him called overseas at short notice.
Chair of the bench Eileen Ashton imposed a £400 fine and ordered Farrell to pay £150 compensation, £85 costs and a £40 victim surcharge.
source:
http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/11848292._/
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