Quick look at the headline here and thought this was a standard WAV dispute or similar.
But actually something completely different.
Echoes of 'intoxicated' women who get into a random car thinking it's a 'taxi', but here it's the driver who comes off worst, and he's not posing as a bogus 'taxi' driver
Innocent victim left needing wheelchair after Dundee ‘taxi’ dispute
A Perth man has been jailed after assaulting someone he thought was a taxi driver who refused to take him home.
Robin Alcorn, 26, jumped into the front seat of Ian Pattie’s car, which had parked on Cowgate, Dundee in April this year.
Alcorn was enraged after complete stranger Mr Pattie said he would not take him where he wanted to go and tried to take the man’s keys from him.
A struggle ensued, with Alcorn punching Mr Pattie to the head – causing a cut – and damaging his foot so badly he needed to start using a wheelchair.
Appearing from custody, Alcorn admitted assaulting and also threatening to kill police officers’ family members after he was arrested and trying to bite an officer.
Fight outside car
Dundee Sheriff Court was told by a depute fiscal: “The accused entered the car at the passenger front side door.
“Mr Pattie said he was not a taxi driver and asked him to leave.
“The accused and Mr Pattie exited the vehicle and the accused tried to take Mr Pattie’s keys.
“Mr Pattie then tried to walk west down Cowgate.
“A scuffle ensued and Mr Pattie’s glasses came off.
“Mr Pattie was able to hold the accused down, who kept punching at Mr Pattie to the side of the face.
“Witnesses saw what was happening and ran toward the scene.
“They formed a ‘human’ barrier to keep them separated.”
‘Human barrier’ to stop fight
“At 10pm police observed the accused trying to push past the barrier of people.
“They said he appeared under the influence.
“He was arrested and made no reply.”
Mr Pattie was taken to Ninewells, while Alcorn was taken to police headquarters on Bell Street.
While there he made threats to kill police officers’ family members and attempted to bite PC Lewis Smith.
Defence solicitor Larry Flynn, in mitigation for Alcorn, said: “He has been in custody since April this year.
“He has not been able to shed any light as to why this happened.
“The accused was under the impression the complainer was a taxi driver. He was not.
“He does have a lengthy record.”
Sheriff Robert More sentenced Alcorn, a prisoner at HMP Perth, to 10 months in prison, backdated to April.
