Truro taxi driver Brian Stevens speaks of 'devastating' attack by thug Lewis Mapstone
Left Thug Lewis Mapstone left taxi driver Brian Stevens with these horrific bite marks after robbing him
A taxi driver has spoken of the moment a thug viciously head-butted and bit him before robbing his takings, saying it has "devastated his life".
Taxi driver Brian Stevens, 64, has described how he is still suffering flashbacks and anxiety attacks following the horrific attack.
Thug Lewis Mapstone, 25, was jailed by Truro Crown Court for the robbery which took place on the morning of July 22.
Father-of-one Mr Stevens had been called to pick up Mapstone - who paid for the taxi at the start of the journey – from Truro and take him to Tregony.
What Mr Stevens didn't know was his customer had just burgled homes on College Way and as they arrived at Tregony, Mapstone made a grab for the taxi driver's money bag.
Mr Stevens said: "He head-butted me twice and then bit me on the hand and then three times on the right shoulder. I lost my grip and he took my money.
"It all happened so quickly, probably I was naive but I work hard for that money and I wasn't just going to let him have it. I am an ex-rugby player and I am quite strong and would not let go. I didn't feel the pain at the time but afterwards it was pretty horrendous and that's putting it mildly.
"It was terrifying. I still get flashbacks and shallow breathing but I have to carry on working because the bills don't go away."
Mr Stevens, from St Ives, required hospital treatment and had to be vaccinated against hepatitis and tetanus. He was also prescribed a course of antibiotics after one of the bite wounds became infected.
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"It's devastated my life," he said. "It was 20 past eight in the morning when it happened, it was the first run of the day, I had been to the shop bought a coffee and you just don't it expect that sort of thing.
"I loved my job and I really was a happy-go-lucky type of a person. It's now no longer a pleasant job. Quite a lot of the time it's at the back of my mind."
Thug Lewis Mapstone bit Mr Stevens three times on the right shoulder as well as head-butting him and biting as he fought to get the cabbies money.
Mr Stevens, who has been a taxi driver for 12 years, added: "It has changed my life out of recognition."
He has had to stop working as a Hackney Carriage driver and now works as a private hire taxi driver, which means that he only picks up customers who have booked in advance over the phone with the taxi company he works for.
Mr Stevens said the taxi company had been brilliant as have Devon and Cornwall Police, particularly investigating officer, detective constable Mark Jenkin at Truro police.
He said his 24-year-old son and wife have been hugely supportive as he tries to get back normality and also thanked the Good Samaritans who came to his aid shortly after the attack.
"It happened near to Tregony school and I would like to thank members of the public who rallied around me and provided sugar and coffee until the police arrived, they were absolutely brilliant."
Mapstone, who pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to the offences, was jailed at Truro Crown Court on Friday, September 23 for a total of five years and six months.
He was sentenced to serve four years for the robbery which will run consecutively to the 18-month sentence the judge imposed for the offences relating to the three burglary charges, which will run concurrently.
Read more at http://www.westbriton.co.uk/truro-taxi- ... fOy8kgj.99