Oldham man left his Uber driver covered in blood over trip route row
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... r-33777240
A drunken Uber passenger launched a vile glass bottle attack on the driver when he was unable to change the selected journey route. Dmiko Berkley booked the private hire service from an address in Warrington on February 16.
Part way through the journey, a court heard how Berkley wanted the driver to divert the route. However, the driver explained he couldn’t manually alter the route unless it was done via the Uber App.
Berkley, aged 27, then told the driver was going to be sick. The court heard how the victim stopped the car on Statham Avenue in Warrington and looked behind to see Berkley with his head between his legs in the back seat.
However when he got out and opened the back door of the taxi, Berkley hit the driver over the head with a glass bottle, leaving him bleeding and with cuts to his head.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Berkley fled the scene, running into a local housing estate. The driver got into his car covered in blood and called the police. An investigation as launched and Berkley was arrested at his home in Oldham on suspicion of assault and possession of an offensive weapon which he admitted, blaming the incident on him being drunk at the time.
The 27-year-old, of Lord Street, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on April 7, where he pleaded guilty to section 18 wounding without intent and possession of an offensive weapon, namely a glass bottle, in a public place. He was jailed for 20 months.
DI David Schofield of Cheshire Constabulary, said: “This was a very distressing event for the taxi driver who had simply been doing his job. He should not expect to be attacked and end up in hospital while innocently earning a living.
“I hope this conviction serves as a warning that violence in the workplace will not be tolerated, wherever that may be.”