Drunken World Cup reveller fined after taxi was trashed in Nottingham city centre
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She admitted hitting the side of the vehicle, which had already been badly damaged
Image: Nottingham Post/Marie Wilson
A drunken World Cup reveller must pay £200 to a cabbie after a judge said she harmed the image of the "great city" of Nottingham.
Joanne Duke, 42, was among hundreds of people who flooded into Old Market Square, where a man climbed on to a taxi, denting it and smashing the sunroof.
She admitted hitting the side of the vehicle, which had already been badly damaged in the incident on July 7, shortly after England had beaten Sweden in the quarter finals.
A 28-day prison term, suspended for nine months, was imposed on Duke. At the time, she was living in a tent on a canal bank.
District judge Tim Spruce told her: "This was not an ordinary criminal damage charge.
"It represents group disorder and uncontrolled behaviour with complete disregard for those in any way affected.
"There were people who got a very poor view of the city of Nottingham, with this perception of this great city shown around the world."
Sitting at the magistrates' court, the judge said that he accepted that Duke did not start the trouble and that the taxi was "already significantly damaged".
But he said that the incident had a big impact on cabbie Arif Qureshi, 61, of Nuthall, who suffered a "significant physical, psychological and financial impact and damage to his very livelihood".
The court heard that a 27-year-old man had been cautioned and another suspect was released.
Sanjay Jerath, prosecuting, said that many people filmed the trouble and it was shown on YouTube. Mr Qureshi had dropped off a customer in Friar Lane before pulling round the corner. Within moments, his taxi was surrounded.
Image: Nottingham Post
A man jumped on to the bonnet and then on top of the car - shattering the panoramic sunroof and showering Mr Qureshi with glass. The cabbie managed to escape and could only watch as the incident unfolded.
He said later: "I can't believe this has happened. I feel ill with all the stress."
Mr Jerath told the court: "Miss Duke was part of this massive group of people acting in this manner.
"It was clear how people perceive the city of Nottingham where people should have been celebrating and behave like this."
John Pendlebury, for Duke, said that she spent 18 months living in a tent beside a canal but now had a home in New Albion, Sneinton.
"She has suffered from so many social ills - substance and alcohol abuse, physical and mental health problems, homelessness; just about everything that is bad," he said.
But he said that Duke had emerged from a spell in hospital with her drug and alcohol problems under control. He added: "Things are beginning to come together."