Taxi Driver Online

Halifax Courier

September 28, 2006

HEADLINE: Racist thugs beat cabbie and leave him for dead

By Rehana Zeria

RACIST thugs launched a vicious attack on a private hire driver before robbing him of his takings and leaving him for dead.

Javid Ali, 28, was driving two men to Pye Nest, Halifax, when one of them grabbed him from behind and began punching him.

Mr Ali said: "I am terrified after suffering this whole ordeal.

"I have only been doing this for three months. I have been experiencing flashbacks and am seriously considering not going back to work. I am suffering pains that have kept me up at night."

Mr Ali, of Parkinson Lane, Halifax, was working at 3am for GW Taxi's, Sowerby Bridge, last Saturday when he picked up two men in Sowerby Bridge and made his way towards Pye Nest Gardens where they asked to be dropped off.

Mr Ali said: "They had bottles in their hands and I told them drinking in the car wasn't allowed. They threw the bottles out of the car."

As he drove along Rochdale Road, worried Mr Ali radioed his office and said he thought there may be trouble. He said: "The two exchanged glances that worried me. I looked back and one of the guys grabbed me and punched me. The other man punched my eye.

"I stopped the car and two other men joined in. They were shouting 'Kill this [edited by admin] b****** and finish him off.'

"They beat me and robbed me of my £50 takings and left me for dead. I fell and was left unconscious."

Police and ambulance were called and Mr Ali was taken to hospital with cuts and bruises.

Detective Inspector Mark McManus confirmed the attack was being treated as racially aggravated. He said: "This was particularly nasty. I believe these youths live in the Pye Nest area and we would appreciate the help of the public in identifying them."

They were white, aged 18 to 19. One was around 5ft 10ins with fair hair brushed forward and wearing a blue tracksuit top.

The second was around 5ft 9ins with brown hair and wearing a brown hooped jumper.

Anyone with information should contact Halifax CID on 01422 337085 or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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