Almost didn't bother with this, because there's not much on the taxi angle (and nothing to suggest any direct threat to passengers) and it's probably of more interest in terms of politics and, er, rape gang-adjacent kind of stuff
And, of course, he's now an ex-driver
(And not clear if he was driving HC or PH, but he'll have had an HC badge either way...)
Dundee taxi driver who burned wife and made acid threat blamed ‘culture clash’
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/co ... ure-clash/
Arslan Ali was visibly stunned to be jailed at Dundee Sheriff Court.
A former Dundee taxi driver who burned his ex-partner with a hot pan and made a threat to throw acid in her face has been jailed.
Shocked Arslan Ali had to be ushered to the cells after learning of his prison sentence for two years worth of abuse at addresses in Dundee.
He also assaulted two young children during this time.
The 48-year-old’s lawyer claimed there may have been a “culture clash” between he and his wife.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael said: “I doubt there’s any respected culture that would accept this kind of behaviour towards women or partners.”
Jurors at the city’s sheriff court previously found him unanimously guilty of engaging in an abusive course of conduct between 2021 and 2023.
Ali held a hot pan against the woman’s arm and left her with a scar the court heard was “barely visible”.
He was also convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour which included isolating her from friends, threatening to kill her and threatening to throw acid in her face.
It was revealed Ali accepted his conviction made it unlikely for him to regain employment as a taxi driver and he planned to return to professional cooking.
‘Culture clash’
Defence solicitor Ian Houston said Ali continued to maintain his innocence and because of his attitude towards the charge, he was deemed unsuitable for the Caledonian Programme for domestic offenders.
The lawyer added Ali would not comply with an electronic tag order being imposed because it would affect his working hours.
“This was not a situation where there was a meek and timid wife was being bullied,” Mr Houston said.
“She was being bullied but she was arguing back as it were.
“Given he came from Pakistan – he was only 16 at the time – there may be a certain culture clash somewhere along the line.”
Accused’s disbelief
Sheriff Carmichael said: “You are assessed as not suitable for the Caledonian Programme because of your refusal to accept you have any problem with your behaviour towards a partner and you did not consent to a restriction of liberty order.
“There is no reasonable alternative to a custodial sentence.”
Ali was locked up for 20 months and made subject to a non-harassment order for seven years.
He shook his head after being handcuffed and could be heard to say repeatedly to Sheriff Carmichael and Mr Houston: “Can I speak for one minute? Please?”
Ali initially refused to be taken downstairs and tried to give his mobile phone to a friend before being led away by a GeoAmey officer and a police constable.
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Image: The Courier