Taxi Driver Online

'MASK MADNESS' Uber passenger punched and shoved driver into boot after refusing to wear mask

AN Uber passenger punched and shoved a driver into a boot in a fit of "mask madness", a court heard.

Kerry Battram, 33, repeatedly smashed the door on cabbie Dayo Idolomahv after he refused to take him home unless he wore a face covering.

Battram had been celebrating the end of lockdown in Soho, central London, when he flew into a rage.

The driver refused to take Battram home on July 4 when revellers flocked to Soho to celebrate the reopening of bars.

Battram, who was drinking heavily on the night, planned to stay at his friend's home in Wimbledon but had got out of the cab in Wandsworth "as a joke".

He then booked an Uber home to Essex, but Mr Idolomahv refused to take him when he saw he was without a mask.

Battram, of Harold's Wood, Romford, punch Mr Idolomahv before shoving him into his own boot and smashing the door on him repeatedly "at least three times".

Witnesses told Wimbledon Magistrates' Court he was screaming "Masks are to protect you, not me" during the brutal attack and threw Mr Idolomahv's possessions on the floor.

Battram denied the allegations, laughing at accounts of him smashing the car door on the driver, but magistrates ruled he was "not credible".

He said: "I got in the Uber, I wasn't wearing a mask, he said: "Have you got one?".

"I said "No, it's for your protection, not mine," and then he said: "No, I'm not going to take you.

"I asked whether it would be beneficial for him and he said "no" quite aggressively, "you can call another diver and get another car".

"I slammed the door quite aggressively, I do admit that, that's when he proceeded to get out of the car and attack me.

"He's got no reason to come out the vehicle unless he's got the intention of doing something to me.'

James Murray, the Magistrates' bench chair, said: "The incident was caused by the defendant's refusal to wear a mask on a taxi and subsequently about which we have heard evidence from others.

"We heard consistent and credible accounts of the incident.

"The defendant's evidence was not supported by other evidence, we did not find it credible.

_________________
IDFIMH

A very polite and often used expression in court.

A working class definition is 'you are a lying c***'.

_________________
IDFIMH

there are ways and means of asking get it wrong and people do take offense. That said a total over reaction from the punter

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