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Cabbie beaten for £60 takings
By Sally Henfield
Burnley Citizen, UK
A TAXI driver almost lost the sight in one eye after being attacked and robbed by a passenger.
The driver was left needing stitches to a wound to his left eye when he was beaten for his evening's takings, £60, after taking three men from Burnley to Accrington.
The attack came only weeks after Blackburn drivers threatened to boycott late night shifts because of increasing attacks from violent passengers, often fuelled by drink.
And drivers also threatened to avoid late-night drop-offs in Clayton-le-Moors because of violence.
The driver, from Brierfield, had picked up three white men in his silver Vauxhall Astra, licensed to the UK Private Hire firm, in Burnley, at around 2am.
He collected the men from outside JJB Sports, St James Street, Burnley, before heading to Accrington.
Ten minutes later he was preparing to drop the men off in Burnley Road, at the junction of Penny House Lane, when one of the passengers began to attack him. He was hit round the head, injuring his eye.
The driver was taken to Burnley General Hospital amid fears that his eye had been permanently damaged during the assault. However, he was released after having his wound stitched.
Det Sgt Paul Rudd, of Accrington Police, said the attack did not appear to be racially motivated and added: "This was a nasty attack and it appears to have been a completely unprovoked assault.
"Whilst the driver didn't suffer any broken bones, he has been left with facial injuries and was extremely shaken up by the incident.
Mohammed Arif, from the Hyndburn Taxi Association, said: "This kind of behaviour is completely disgraceful, but it is on the rise. Many drivers are scared to work late shifts, especially in the run-up to Christmas when people are out drinking more."
Witnesses are asked to call 0845 1253545 or Crime-stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin
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