Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver needed reconstructive surgery after being attacked by Kibworth man trying to avoid paying fare of less than £20

https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/t ... -1-8873195

A Kibworth man has been found guilty of breaking a taxi driver's jaw and leaving without paying the fare.

Joe Connors, 19, of Dairy Way, Kibworth Harcourt was convicted today (April 1) of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent. He will be sentenced on Friday, April 26.

The court was told that on the evening of Friday, August 11, 2017, a taxi driver picked up four people from Leicester and agreed to take them to Kibworth.

As they approached Kibworth, the driver dropped two of the passengers off and continued taking the two remaining passengers to The Railway pub in Station Street.

The two men left the car saying they were going into the pub to get some cash as payment for the fare entering through a side door.

The driver got out of the taxi to stretch his legs and saw the two men exiting the front door and believed they were attempting to make off without paying the fare.

He asked them for the fare and after arguing amongst themselves as to who should pay, one of them suddenly punched the driver to the ribs. The second man punched him to the face and threw him against some metal railings causing him to hit his face once more.

The victim was taken to hospital and it was confirmed he had sustained a broken eye socket, a broken jaw and a broken cheekbone in the assault.

Through their investigation, officers were able to identity Connors as a suspect and he was interviewed by police and later charged.

Despite extensive enquiries including a social media appeal, the other man involved in the assault, was never identified.

Detective Constable Rob Pountney was the investigating officer and said this incident has a dramatic effect on the victim and his ability to work and provide for his family.

He said: “The victim sustained some significant facial injuries later undergoing reconstructive surgery and having a metal place placed into his face. He continues to this day to be in pain from the injuries he sustained.

“Connors chose to assault the victim and inflict some nasty injuries all for the sake of a taxi fare of less than £20. While his conviction doesn’t take away the continued pain that the victim suffers, I hope he can take some little comfort in that the person responsible is has been found guilty at court and will be punished accordingly when sentenced at court.”

You don't live in Kibworth unless your loaded !!

sounds like another "privileged" teenager that thinks he's entitled to the world for free

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Taxi driver has metal plate inserted in face after teen attacked him over unpaid £20 fare

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news ... ed-2831453

The victim was taken to hospital with a broken eye socket, a broken jaw and a broken cheekbone

A teenager who attacked a taxi driver, causing a smashed jaw, eye-socket and cheekbone, has been sentenced.

Joe Connors was convicted by a jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm to the cabbie.

The assault happened after the 19-year-old and an unknown accomplice refused to pay the fare for a cab ride on the evening of Friday August 11, 2017.

Leicester Crown Court was told the driver driver picked up Connors and three people in Leicester and agreed to take them to Kibworth, near Market Harborough.

As they approached the village, he dropped off two of the passengers and continued to The Railway Arms pub, in Station Street.

Connors and a second man went into the pub, promising to return with their fare.

The driver got out of his vehicle while he waited but then saw the two men leaving the pub and challenged them.

The driver asked them for the fare and after arguing amongst themselves as to who should pay, the unknown accomplice suddenly punched the driver to the ribs.

Jonathan Dunne, prosecuting, said Connors, then aged 17, punched the driver to the face and threw him against some metal railings causing him to hit his head.

The victim was taken to hospital with a broken eye socket, a broken jaw and a broken cheekbone, which required an operation with the insertion of metal plates.

What the Judge said

Judge Robert Brown said: "You were only 17 at the time, but it's a serious matter.

"Almost two years have passed since this offence.

"In that period you haven't committed another offence and hadn't committed any offences of any sort prior to this one.

"The psychological report tells me you have got issues ... having been assessed with borderline perceptional reasoning.

"I think it's likely you were playing the lesser role in this incident with the taxi driver.

"You have significant learning difficulties ...and are described as being easily led.

"There's a realistic prospect of rehabilitation."

The judge said he accepted that Connors played an important role helping his father to care for one of his brothers who was severely mentally impaired and assisting his mother who had bi-polar disorder.

Judge Brown said custody would have "a harmful impact" on the defendant's family.

He added: "If you'd been dealt with promptly it would have been in the youth court and the sentencing options would have been radically different and it's right I take that into account.

Connors, of Dairy Way, Kibworth Harcourt, was given a 12 month sentence of detention, suspended for two years, with a three month electronically monitored night time curfew, between 9pm and 6am.

He was ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work and attend 15 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Judge Brown told Connors "A taxi driver is someone who provides a public service."

He described the attack as "serious" and "a disgrace" saying if the defendant could not afford a taxi fare he should not have got into the cab.

The judge said he was prepared to give Connors "a chance."

He said: "You should consider yourself lucky you're not going into custody immediately."

The defendant's father addressed the judge in court, saying his son acted "completely out of character" when he committed the offence but was normally well behaved and provided invaluable help at home.

What was said in mitigation

Dharmendra Toor, mitigating, said there had been a significant delay of about a year before charging Connors and bringing the case to court.

He said: "The defendant accepts the jury's verdict and his conviction of the offence.

"This was an isolated offence and there was no pre-meditation.

"He's of low cognitive ability with substantial learning difficulties.

"He's now having assistance with numeracy and literacy.

"He's unlikely to ever appear before a court again."

What the police said

Detective Constable Rob Pountney, who led the investigation, said: “The victim sustained some significant facial injuries later undergoing reconstructive surgery and having a metal plate placed into his face.

"He continues to this day to be in pain from the injuries he sustained.

“Connors chose to assault the victim and inflict some nasty injuries all for the sake of a taxi fare of less than £20.

"While his conviction doesn’t take away the continued pain that the victim suffers, I hope he can take some little comfort in that the person responsible was found guilty.”

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IDFIMH