Taxi Driver Online

Lochee in Dundee. The very streets where I cut my teeth as a driver. And managed to avoid having my teeth knocked out by, er, the skin of my teeth

But horrendous case whichever way you look at it.

But frustrating thing about this article for people on here is that although it highlights the fact that the victim was a driver, nowhere in the near-800 word article does it specifically state whether it was job or not.

They could have just been walking home from the pub, or just a random meeting, or whatever.


Man left taxi driver with 'severe' brain injury in attack over cigarette

https://news.stv.tv/north/dundee-man-le ... arette-row

Mark Ward will likely require round the clock care for the rest of his life after he was attacked by Steven Greig.

A criminal who has convictions for 189 offences assaulted a man and left him with a severe brain injury because his victim didn’t give him a cigarette, a court heard. 

Steven Greig, 45, attacked taxi driver Mark Ward, 54, on Coupar Angus Road in the Lochee area of Dundee on April 6. 

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how eyewitnesses saw Greig hitting Mr Ward at the side of the road close to a roundabout at the city’s South Road. 

Grieg pushed Mr Ward onto the road and caused him to fall down a hill and hit his head off concrete. Greig then started kicking his victim on the head before leaving the scene. 

Onlookers rushed to help Mr Ward as he lay motionless on the ground. He was rushed to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and medics rushed to save his life. 

Prosecutor Victoria Dow told judge Lady Haldane that medics succeeded in saving Mr Ward – but he needs round the clock care and will likely need long term support with all aspects of life in the future. 

Meanwhile, the court heard that Greig didn’t express remorse to police officers for what he did to Mr Ward when they arrested him for the assault.

The court heard he told them: “I’m on five bails. That’s me f****d all because he wouldn’t give me a fag.”

Greig, of Charleston Drive, Dundee, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Ward to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and to the danger of his life. 

Ms Dow told the court that Grieg has 94 previous convictions for 189 offences for matters including dishonesty, knife possession, drugs and road traffic offences. 

She told the court that Mr Ward was a family man who helped his 82-year-old mum and 89-year-old dad with shopping, travel and taking them to medical appointments. 

Speaking about the aftermath of the attack, Ms Dow said: “Several members of the public observed Steven Greig making off from the area whilst shouting back towards the locus. 

“They then found the complainer lying motionless in the middle of the road and offered medical assistance and the incident was reported to the emergency services.”

She said that an off-duty nurse called David Lomas was present at the scene as was Jennifer Rollo, an off-duty doctor.

Ms Dow said they both saw Mr Ward having “some form of seizure” and Ms Rollo helped him breathe as witnesses waited for paramedics to arrive. 

But she noticed that Mr Ward was bleeding heavily from his head.

The court heard that Mr Ward was rushed to hospital and doctors assessed him as being critically ill. On April 7, surgeons performed an operation to relieve pressure on the right side of his brain. 

However, the court heard that Mr Ward still hasn’t recovered from his ordeal. 

Ms Dow said: “Mark Ward still continues to be an inpatient in the Neurological ward at Ninewells Hospital. He is dependent on 24 hour nursing care. 

“He makes spontaneous sounds with occasional words however, there is no meaningful conversation. 

“There is some spontaneous movement of arms and legs but this is not directed or purposeful. 

“Mr Ward is PEG fed and it is likely that he will require long term care and assistance with all aspects of care and daily living.”

Meanwhile, the court heard of Greig’s behaviour following the assault. 

The court heard that he went to a woman called Tracey Mudie’s house and told her about what had happened. 

Ms Dow said: “He appeared to be angry. He was captured on Tracey Mudie’s Ring Doorbell CCTV camera. 

“In the footage, he is heard to say ‘I’ve just battered a taxi driver. I asked him for a smoke and he came at me with an attitude’.”

The court heard that despite his record, this was the first time that Grieg had appeared in the High Court. Lady Haldane said she wanted to obtain a report on his background before sentencing him. 

Defence solicitor advocate Jim Laverty agreed with Lady Haldane’s plan and reserved his mitigation. 

She told Greig, who observed proceedings via videolink from Perth Prison where he is currently on remand: “You are without doubt a prolific offender with a frankly disgraceful record of previous convictions. 

“I am going to adjourn sentence to obtain a criminal justice social work report in order to have all relevant facts before me before i proceed to sentencing. 

“You will be remanded in custody meantime.”

Greig will be sentenced on January, 9 2023.

I suppose that's the nearest to confirmation that the victim was actually working as a driver at the time, although it's still not conclusive.

But seems unlikely he would say 'I've just battered a taxi driver' if it had happened in other than the context of being a passenger in a taxi.

And it happened at the roadside on the main road through the Lochee area, slightly away from the shops and pubs etc.

these people need locking away permanently to protect society. If they have committed that much crime they clearly are never going to reform

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

Maybe when this scumbag gets his jail term the Judge will indicate if the driver was working or not.

It is an aggravating factor if he was working, but clearly not if he was merely walking the streets.

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IDFIMH

Found a couple of photos from when the incident was first reported, which I thought had solved the mystery.

Thought this was the taxi in the photo here, but then realised there was a driver in it, so it must just be a random passing HC

https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... 40x564.jpg


Then this photo of the search, which shows a PHV with the Tele Taxis logo and number.

https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... 6x1152.jpg


But had a look on StreetView, and it's an EV charging station, and in fact there's an HC charging up mid-screen here, so again the photo above is a red herring

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.47153 ... 384!8i8192

Thing is, the reports back in April didn't mention the t-word, which might suggest it wasn't job. On the other hand, doesn't look like there was any police appeal or suchlike, and the arrest was fairly prompt, so maybe no real need to mention the taxi angle in the press (even assuming reporters knew about it, since the police press stuff didn't mention the t-word).

(For what it's worth, the reports back then said the incident took place in Atholl Street, which is a side street off the main road and a couple of hundred yards away from the photos, so maybe there was some sort of chase on foot and they ended up down where the photos were taken, but who knows. But happened at 1.40pm, which maybe suggests it was a taxi thing rather than a row at a pub or house party, or similar.)

Anyway, for what it's worth, the original charge was attempted murder. And, as I said above, no mention of the t-word in the various articles at the time, which is why I didn't pick it up then as being trade-related.



Dundee man appears in court accused of Lochee attempted murder

A man has appeared in court accused of an attempted murder in Dundee.

Steven Greig, 44, appeared in private at the city’s sheriff court facing four charges relating to an incident in Lochee on Wednesday.

As well as attempted murder, Dundee man Greig is accused of resisting, obstructing and hindering police and two breaches of bail.

He made no plea and the case was continued.

A 54-year-old man was taken to Ninewells Hospital in the wake of the incident on Atholl Street.

His condition was described by police on Wednesday afternoon as “critical”.

Part of Coupar Angus Road, at the roundabout with South Road, was closed off as police investigated from around 1.40pm.

Serial criminal's attack left Dundee taxi driver severely disabled

A man with 189 previous convictions has been jailed for leaving a taxi driver who did not give him a cigarette severely disabled.

Steven Greig, 45, attacked Mark Ward on Coupar Angus Road in Dundee.

He pushed Mr Ward, causing him to fall down a hill and hit his head off concrete, before kicking his victim on the head.

Greig was jailed for five years and four months for the attack at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Greig previously admitted assaulting Mr Ward to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and danger of his life.

Witnesses saw Greig hitting Mr Ward at the side of the road close to a roundabout at the city's South Road last April.

Onlookers rushed to help Mr Ward as he lay motionless on the ground.

'Catastrophic consequences'

Prosecutor Victoria Dow told judge Lady Haldane that Mr Ward needs round-the-clock care and will likely need long-term support with all aspects of life in the future.

The court heard Greig told police officers: "I'm on five bails. That's me (expletive) all because he wouldn't give me a fag."

Ms Dow told the court that Greig has previous convictions for 189 offences, including dishonesty, knife possession, drugs and road traffic offences.

She said: "Mark Ward still continues to be an inpatient in the neurological ward at Ninewells Hospital. He is dependent on 24-hour nursing care.

"He makes spontaneous sounds with occasional words, however, there is no meaningful conversation."

Passing sentence, Lady Haldane said: "Your actions have had quite catastrophic consequences for the complainer.

"He has never recovered from the assault and has been left severely disabled. He will require care for the rest of his life."

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IDFIMH

There's nothing either in the Courier's longer report that sheds any light on whether the perp was a passenger, or whether it was nothing to do with the job.

But he's now denying responsibility for the attack, despite pleading guilty


Prison for callous criminal who left Dundee taxi driver needing 24-hour care for ‘refusing to give him cigarette’

A callous criminal with 189 previous convictions has been jailed for leaving a “hard-working” family man from Dundee severely disabled because he would not give him a cigarette.

Steven Greig battered taxi driver Mark Ward in an unprovoked attack on Coupar Angus Road in April last year.

Witnesses saw Greig hit and push Mr Ward, causing him to fall and hit his head on concrete.

He then started kicking the defenceless 54-year-old, before fleeing.

Mr Ward was saved by medics, both off-duty at the scene and in Ninewells Hospital.

However, he needs round-the-clock care and is likely to need long term support with all aspects of life in the future.

Remorseless Greig had fled to a friend’s house and told her: “I’ve just battered a taxi driver.

“I asked him for a smoke and he came at me with an attitude.”

When police caught him, he said: “I’m on five bails.

“That’s me f****d, all because he wouldn’t give me a fag.”

‘Catastrophic consequences’

On Monday at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lady Haldane had to check Greig was paying attention before jailing him for five years and four months.

Greig, who was observing proceedings from jail via video link, had his head in his hands and appeared not to be listening to what Lady Haldane was saying.

The judge had earlier heard how Greig told a court-appointed social worker he was not responsible for the brutal attack.

Passing sentence, she said: “Your actions have had quite catastrophic consequences for the complainer.

“He has never recovered from the assault and has been left severely disabled.

“He will require care for the rest of his life.

“I have had regard to the contents of victim impact statements which tell of how Mr Ward was a hard-working and much loved member of his family.

“I recognised there is no sentence that I can impose which will undo the harm caused to the complainer and to those around him.

“You still continue to deny responsibility for the assault, which is at odds with the agreed narrative previously presented to the court.

“There is no other appropriate sentence in this case – the sentence will be one of five years and four months.”

Helped by hero medics

Greig, of Charleston Drive, Dundee, pled guilty to assaulting Mr Ward to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and to the danger of his life.

Prosecutor Victoria Dow told the court Greig has 94 previous convictions for 189 offences for matters including dishonesty, knife possession, drugs and road traffic offences.

Mr Ward was a family man who helped his 82-year-old mother and 89-year-old father with shopping, travel and taking them to medical appointments.

Greig attacked his victim at 1.30pm on April 6 2022 in Lochee.

Members of the public found Mr Ward “lying motionless in the middle of the road”, Ms Dow said.

David Lomas and Jennifer Rollo, an off-duty nurse and doctor, respectively gave help before he was rushed to hospital.

Surgeons operated to relieve pressure on the right side of his brain but he remains an inpatient in the Neurological ward at Ninewells and dependent on 24-hour nursing care.

There's a couple of new photographs in the Courier's report, and I'm beginning to wonder if the driver was maybe at the EV charging points, and the perp was passing by on foot and asked him for a cigarette. That would explain the slightly strange non-mention of the passenger dimension, the surprising time of day (1.30pm), why they were out of the car and why the driver fell down a hill and was found on the road. And why the perp told someone "I’ve just battered a taxi driver", which would be a strange thing to say if he wasn't a passenger, but would be consistent with meeting him at the charging point.

Thing that confused me is that one report said it happened on Atholl Street, which is on the opposite side of the road to the charging points, and off left on the two photos below. But I suspect Atholl Street is a red herring, and certainly isn't consistent with the photos.

Photos are a bit big, but these are taken from around the charging point, and there's a wee grassy slope between where the photos were taken and the road.






This new photo shows the police photographer taking photos at the charging point:




This huge photo is from the other side of the road, showing the search on the small hill between the charging points and the road:

https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... 6x1152.jpg

Well he will just have to share those thoughts with the other 99.9% of so-called innocent folks in custody.

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IDFIMH

Reading between the lines, I think the driver was either not working, or he was having a fag outside of his cab.

Thus the scumbag thug wasn't a punter, just a scumbag thug.

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IDFIMH

Well done to the medical professionals that saved the fella's life, but the whole situation is so very very sad and unnecessary.

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IDFIMH

I'd certainly put money on the perp not being a punter, although it's still a bit odd that in an article of the length of the one at the top of this thread there's not even a few words that would contextualise how they met.

But I'd guess he was working, hence the "I've just battered a taxi driver" comment. And the photos of the police search etc suggest he was at or around the charging points. The charging points are to left here, and I'd guess the victim fell down what's referred to as a 'hill' and onto the road.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.47172 ... 384!8i8192

A crime report in the press almost a decade ago suggests that at that time he stayed in Adamson Court, which is ironically the multi-story block on the right above. Adamson Court has a bit of an, er, reputation

Atholl Street is mainly behind the trees at the centre of Streetview, although one of the nearest blocks can just be seen behind the trees there. I wouldn't be surprised if that's where he went to see the woman and said "I've just battered a taxi driver", and that's why Atholl Street is mentioned in the reports. You can get a two-bed flat in Atholl Street for around £50k

Steven Greig (Image: Police Scotland)

Found these two previous articles, which are almost certainly the same Steven Greig. The ages match, and the crimes fit with what's been reported recently. Also the locations mentioned are consistent, which include Lochee High Street, which is very close to the scene of the crime. I suspect he was walking from the High Street area and passed by the charging point on the way.

This is from 2014, and is mainly about a roll call of shoplifting stuff from all over Dundee, and including shops I've been in hundreds of times, or even over 1,000 times in the case of Tesco Extra Kingsway

His address back then is given as Adamson Court, which ironically is the multi-story block opposite where the charging point is now located, although his more recent address is about a mile away from the locus.

His drug problem is mentioned, but it's almost all shoplifting stuff, but there's also a couple of mentions of 'threatening behaviour':

(Unfortunately this stuff can't be copied, so this is just the link to the article.)

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/evening- ... 8512228409

This is three years later in 2017, and is slightly more interesting given the violence involved, and because it's claimed at that point that he doesn't have a violent history.

Can't find anything about the sentencing. but it's interesting that at 36-years-old he's apparently confined himself to threatening behaviour. Aged 40 he's obviously gotten a bit more violent, as described below. At 44 he's left the driver needing 24-hour care over a fag


Violence ‘unusual’ for Dundee man, 40, who seized his victim by the neck

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/du ... ctim-neck/

A sheriff deferred sentence on a man after he admitted assault.

Steven Greig, of Rosefield Street, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Seagate on October 14.

On separate occasions, Greig shouted, swore, gesticulated at people and acted aggressively.

Greig also admitted assaulting a male, who is unknown, by seizing him by the neck and pushing his head, on the same date and at the same location.

Appearing on behalf of Greig, solicitor Kevin Hampton told the court the offences were unusual for the 40-year-old.

He said: “Violence is not something that features in his record.

“Historically, he has a drug problem, but the issue here is taking alcohol.”

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis deferred sentence until November 21 and called for reports to be compiled on Greig.