Father and son assaulted and racially abused taxi driverhttps://www.expressandstar.com/news/cri ... xi-driver/A father and son who assaulted and racially abused a taxi driver have been handed suspended jail terms.The pair – both called Jason Deathridge – struck on a filling station forecourt where they had allegedly been locked in the stationary cab amid fears they were not going to pay the fare, a judge was told.
The two men and three females, two of whom were aged 13 and 14, were picked up from the Hasbury Conservative Club in Halesowen at the request of another woman customer.
She had been collected from an address in Brierley Hill, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
Taxi driver Tanvir Dad was asked to take the group to Blackheath but on the way overheard conversation in the back of the cab that suggested the passengers were not going to pay when they reached the destination, said Mrs Sati Ruck, prosecuting.
He decided to drive back to a BP petrol station in Stourbridge Road which was illuminated and covered by CCTV which showed the vehicle was parked for six minutes without anybody getting out.
Meanwhile, another taxi driver stopped to talk with Mr Dad through an open window shortly before the passengers started to get out at around midnight on December 10, 2016, the court was told.
The younger Deathridge, who, like his father, appeared to have been drinking, hurled racial abuse at the driver whom he chased before knocking him to the ground where the victim was kicked several times as the 48-year-old father joined in, ending up on top of Mr Dad as others rushed to end the violence. The driver suffered bruising to the back, shoulder and face.
Mrs Ruck concluded: “Jason Deathridge senior accepts that his son was shouting racial abuse and that he then joined his son by taking part in the subsequent incident.”
Mr Anthony Cartin, representing the 23-year-old son, who was of previous good character, said: “He is thoroughly ashamed of his actions.”
Mr Tom Kenning, defending the father, added: “The passengers were locked in the taxi for six minutes during which the two young women suffered panic attacks and became upset and this appears to have been the catalyst, but it is no excuse.”
The father and son, both from Roundhills Road, Hurst Green, Halesowen, each admitted racially aggravated assault.
The former was given an 18-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months with 180 hours unpaid work.
His son was given a 16-month suspended sentence with 150 hours unpaid work.
They must pay £300 and £200 compensation respectively to the victim.
Login
Register
FAQ
