Taxi Driver Online

Aye, but Uber

Not sure if this headline maybe overeggs the 'gouging' a bit, but judge for yourself...


Road rage driver jailed after he crashed into taxi and tried to gouge out cabbie’s eye

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... er-jailed/

James Smith's vicious assault came at the end of a "five-day bender", Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.

An Aberdeen taxi driver almost had his eye gouged out by another motorist in a vicious road rage attack.

His assailant, James Smith, had been on a “five-day bender” when he carried out the brutal assault on Hutcheon Street.

The taxi driver was attacked after he challenged Smith for crashing into the back of his car as he sat at traffic light, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.

Smith, who appeared under the influence, repeatedly punched the other driver before sticking his finger into the man’s eye socket and “applying pressure”.

Appearing from custody for sentencing, Smith, 41, sat in the dock and listened to the narration of the incident, which took place on August 5 last year.

Fiscal depute Callum Gordon said both men had exited their cars, but the taxi driver challenged Smith about appearing drunk.

Road rage motorist mounted pavement and sped off

The taxi driver began ringing the police, but on seeing this Smith ran at him, knocking the phone out of his hand.

Mr Gordon said: “The accused then pushed him against the vehicle door and repeatedly punched him to the head.

“He then put his arm around [the taxi driver’s] neck and compressed the same and at the same time, inserted a finger into his eye socket and applied pressure.”

The court heard that Smith then drove off, but collided with the taxi again, and then careered into “several bollards”, causing some of them to come out of the ground.

Smith then mounted the pavement and made off.

Police later found Smith’s car with significant damage and signalled for it to stop.

The court heard Smith was “observed to be unsteady on his feet and smelling of alcohol”.

Lashed out at officers

As he was handcuffed, Smith lashed out and tried to headbutt the arresting officers.

He refused to give a breath sample and continued to resist arrest, spitting at one officer.

While at Kittybrewster Custody Suite, and as an officer was reading out the charges, Smith stood up and adopted a fighting stance before launching into a volley of abuse.

The taxi driver suffered pain in his left eye and blurry vision in the days after the assault, the court was told.

Five-day bender

Speaking on behalf of Smith, David Sutherland said his client had been on a five-day bender leading up to the incident.

He said: “He had consumed alcohol to excess. A five-day bender culminated in this shocking incident.

“He does accept full responsibility.”

Mr Sutherland said Smith was in a “better place” having spent time on remand and foregoing any drugs or alcohol.

Bad record for violence

Sheriff Ian Wallace said Smith had a bad record for violence and road traffic offences and warned that he had placed members of the public in danger by his actions.

He sentenced Smith to 30 months’ imprisonment and banned him from driving for 60 months.

Smith will have to pass the extended driving test for competency if he wishes to get his licence back.

In March 2025 Smith was placed on a community payback order for threatening to set a dog on his former partner.

https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... z44w33.jpg

what an evil sob I hope he gets the maximum

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

Let's hope he stays in that place, jail, for the rest of his life.

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IDFIMH