|
Intoxicated man punched taxi driver in head while he was driving after assault
An intoxicated man launched a "cowardly" attack upon a taxi driver and punched him in the head from behind while he was driving. He and a woman kicked and stamped on the driver after he was taken to the floor.
John Watson, 29, had been drinking in Bridgend town centre on November 17 last year having acted as a pallbearer at his best friend's funeral earlier that day. As a result of his drinking, he acted aggressively towards taxi driver Steven Williams, who picked him up outside a pub with two women and a another man, and drove him towards Wildmill.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard the taxi entered Quarella Road when Watson got out of the vehicle and slammed the door. Mr Williams also got out of the taxi and asked the defendant why he slammed the door, telling him the taxi was his "livelihood".
Prosecutor Martha Smith-Higgins said Watson immediately took a "fighting stance" and told the victim he would "knock his f****** head off". He swung at Mr Williams who managed to avoid three punches but was hit by one of the women, who had got out of the taxi.
He fell to the floor and Watson joined the woman in kicking, stamping and punching the victim as he fell on the floor. The defendant kicked Mr Williams in his face, head and ribs as he was curled up in a ball. The other man in the taxi shouted "Stop, he's had enough".
At this point, Mr Williams went to get back into his taxi but the defendant walked ahead of him and got into the vehicle. The victim was worried about getting into the taxi alone with Watson but made a decision to drive to the nearest police station.
On the route, he began repeatedly punching Mr Williams in the back of head from the rear seat as the victim was driving before putting his fingers in his eyes, mouth and nose and pulling back hard. He also grabbed hold of the driver's jumper and pulled backwards, leaving Mr Williams unable to breathe. As he drove past the pub where he picked Watson up from, he sounded his horn in attempt to get help.
When the taxi stopped outside the police station, Mr Williams and Watson got out of the car and, worried he would be assaulted again, the victim took the defendant to the floor and placed him in a chokehold while calling for help. By the time police arrived, Watson had got back into the taxi and had fallen asleep.
He was woken up and arrested, telling police he had drunk a large amount of alcohol and could not remember parts of the evening. As a result of the assaults, Mr Williams suffered bruising, swelling and cuts to his face.
Watson, of Gwaun Brant, Pontycymer, later pleaded guilty to assault by beating. The court heard he had six previous convictions, the last of which was a public order offence in 2016.
In mitigation, Alex Greenwood said his client was "particularly emotional" on the day of the assaults having attended the funeral of his best friend who had taken his own life. The barrister said the combination of emotion and alcohol had resulted in a "disgraceful incident". He said the defendant had a partner and 13-year-old daughter, and had difficulties with ADHD and anxiety.
Sentencing, Recorder Ben Blakemore said: "Your victim was a taxi driver just doing their job, a job the community relies on to keep functioning. He was unfortunate to pick you up as a fare. This was a cowardly act."
Watson was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment suspended for two years. He was made subject to an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement for 120 days, to undergo sessions of a "Thinking Skills" programme and a 10 day rehabilitation activity requirement.
_________________
IDFIMH
|
Login
Register
FAQ
