Confusing and sorry tale this. Suspect a group of drunken blokes all making a racket, arguing about where they wanted to go, and driver took them to wrong place and overcharged them, by the looks of it
Passengers won't pay, then one hits the driver, who responds by attacking him with a wheel brace.
Unfortunately there were police officers in the group, but it's perhaps telling that the victim didn't want to make a statement.
So I'd normally sympathise with the driver here, but his reaction was way disproportionate.
But with his history, perhaps not a huge surprise. A powder keg waiting to go off
Strip club row taxi driver attacks passenger with wheel brace
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... r-17582049
The victim said he and his police officer friends didn't ask to go to a lap dancing club
A taxi driver attacked a passenger with a wheel brace in an argument over a trip to a lap dancing club.
Black cab driver Joseph Jones took a fare from surveyor Alex Hewitt and his friends including Cumbrian police officers.
Jones, 36, claimed they asked to be taken to a strip joint, so he drove them to Rude Gentlemen's Club in Duke Street.
But when they arrived the group complained, insisting they had wanted to go to Concert Square, and refused to pay.
The dispute escalated when Mr Hewitt punched Jones, before the driver got out and broke his arm with the weapon.
Liverpool Crown Court heard the victim's group left Neighbourhood, in Castle Street, in the early hours of February 3 last year.
David Polglase, prosecuting, said the group, who had been drinking since 10pm, were asked to pay £20 for the journey.
However, when they got out they realised they had been taken to the strip club and Mr Hewitt challenged the driver.
Mr Polglase accepted it was not possible to see Jones striking Mr Hewitt and it was no longer part of the prosecution case.
He said: "It appears Mr Hewitt is at the very least leaning in and does something that then causes this defendant to come out the driver's side of his taxi, pursue Mr Hewitt a short distance up the street and deliver blows to him using a wheel brace that was then recovered by the police."
Mr Hewitt was taken to Royal Liverpool Hospital with a fractured right arm, which required a plaster cast and sling.
He declined to make a victim statement.
Later that day, police went to Jones' home, arrested him and recovered the metal bar, which measured about 60cm long.
Jones, of Fazakerley Road, Prescot , made no comment, but in a second interview when shown the CCTV accepted it was him.
Mr Polglase said: "He said they asked to be taken to a strip club, that they were abusive and taking drugs during the journey."
Jones said it felt like he was attacked by the whole group, but later accepted it was only Mr Hewitt.
Mr Polglase said: "He said he hadn't intended to hurt the victim and hadn't been aiming at his head or anything like that."
Jones has 14 previous convictions for 25 offences, including driving matters, criminal damage, public disorder and possessing cannabis.
He was convicted of supplying drugs in 2005, dangerous driving in 2010, and criminal damage and common assault in 2012.
Judge Stuart Driver, QC, said: "The local authority has to decide that someone is a fit and proper person before granting someone a taxi licence don't they?"
He added: "I don't know the detail of their procedure but to a lay person, it looks a bit surprising that this person was given a taxi licence."
Jones, formerly of Tudor Avenue, Huyton, denied causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent but admitted causing GBH, which prosecutors accepted.
Mr Rowan said "regardless of the fact that he was provoked" Jones accepted his response was "entirely and completely disproportionate".
The lawyer said: "He wants it known how deeply sorry and remorseful he is for the obvious pain and distress that he has put Mr Hewitt through".
Mr Rowan said Jones - who lost his taxi licence and job - had stayed out of trouble since 2012 for the sake of his partner and two young children.
He said Jones' girlfriend now worked two jobs, while he cared for their children and his mother-in-law, who has significant health problems.
Mr Rowan said his client had gained a HGV driving licence so he could eventually go back to work and urged the judge to spare him prison.
Judge Driver told Jones: "This case has changed. You must now be sentenced on the basis that the first violence that happened that night occurred when the passenger - who was standing outside the vehicle - punched you in the face through a window, as you sat in your cab.
"That was a provocation and you would not have got out of your taxi if that hadn't happened, but you overreacted and left the cab and took a weapon with you.
"You hit his arm with a wheel brace. You did not intend to cause serious injury, but he suffered a break to a bone in his forearm."
The judge said Jones had been out of trouble for eight years, references said he had changed his life, and he had "lost his livelihood".
Judge Driver said the sentence would be "reduced due to the provocation" and he could spare Jones jail "because of the strong personal mitigation and the impact that prison would have upon others".
He handed him nine months in jail, suspended for 18 months, plus 140 hours of unpaid work.
Jones later ran out of the court building with his face covered.
