Violent passenger punches taxi driver in face after being told to stop swearing
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/lo ... er-3551629
The incident happened as Andrew Baker was getting a ride from a night out
Baker in 2017 (Image: Stoke Sentinel)
Abusive passenger Andrew Baker punched a taxi driver in the face after being told to stop swearing during his ride home.
The 31-year-old had been out drinking at a pub, in Newcastle, when he called the cab and got inside with his girlfriend.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how Baker than started shouting and swearing. The driver attempted to calm him down.
Prosecutor Rachel Pennington said: “The female then joined in and they were arguing. Through the rear view mirror, the driver saw the defendant slap his girlfriend in the face.
“He stopped the vehicle and got out. The male also got out. The defendant came running round the vehicle and punched him in the cheek. He felt pain and discomfort.
“The taxi driver alerted another driver, who attended the scene.”
Baker, of Lynmouth Close, Biddulph, was arrested and spent the night in police custody.
But while in the cell, he urinated against the door. It resulted in police having a £125 cleaning bill.
He went on to plead guilty to assault by beating, criminal damage and breach of a suspended sentence order which had been imposed in 2017.
Ms Pennington told the court the latest offences occurred in the early hours of May 4. “The taxi driver was assaulted while going about his work,” she added.
David Farley, mitigating, said his client had let ‘alcohol get the better of him’ that night. He added: “He does still drink, but he’s under control. He understands the effect drink has on him.”
Baker lost his job at a scrapyard as a result of facing the criminal proceedings, but is now hoping to return to work.
He has been sentenced to five months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
As part of this, he must complete 60 hours of unpaid work and around 50 hours of a rehabilitation activity. Baker has also been ordered to pay £250 compensation and a £50 fine.
Judge David Fletcher told him: “This was a shocking incident. The person who got the worst of it was a taxi driver, who was doing his job and doing exactly what he had been asked.
“He certainly didn’t deserve to be abused and assaulted. Thank goodness there were no serious injuries.
“This was all caused by your excessive use of alcohol that night.”
