THIS was the scene inside a Mansfield taxi after a gang of thugs ripped up its interior and threatened to kill the driver.
The terrifying incident took place in the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday after the taxi driver, who asked to remain anonymous, picked up six men who had been drinking in the town centre.
Click the green 'play' icon to watch a video interview with the taxi driver.
But around 15 minutes into the journey to Ripley — where the group had been asked to be dropped off — the men began tearing up the interior of the vehicle and made threats to kill the driver if he stopped without their say so.
Recovering from his ordeal this week, the driver told Chad: "They were very loud, laughing and shouting in the back of the taxi.
"But I just thought they were having a good night until I got near King's Mill Hospital on the A38 and saw objects being thrown out of the back of my taxi.
"I realised they were tearing up the seats in the back of the taxi so I pulled over and asked them to stop or get out."
At that point the group became aggressive and violent towards the driver and told him if he stopped the taxi again they would kill him.
"I was petrified but just did as they said and continued driving to Ripley while they continued to damage my taxi," he said.
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"When I arrived at Ripley I thought it was all over and they would just leave, but only one man got out of the taxi while the other five said they wanted to go to Jacksdale."
But as the taxi was travelling through Ripley town centre, the driver spotted a police car and made the brave decision to alert the officers to the situation.
"I quickly pulled up by the police car and began to shout and scream at the officers for help," he said.
"The men in the back of the taxi realised what was happening and ran off."
This week the driver is still counting the cost of the damage caused during the incident.
He told Chad: "They ripped the seats, scratched the paint work and even ripped out the lights from the roof.
"This will cost between £4,000 and £5,000 to repair, which I really can't afford.
"I have been a taxi driver for four years but have never experienced violent and aggressive behaviour on that level.
"I cannot understand why they did it — all I was doing was delivering them home safely after their night out and this is how they repay me.
"I was just earning a living to support my family and now I am scared to go back into the same job and I am losing business all the time the car is off the road."
A 19-year-old male was arrested following the incident. But police are still appealing for witnesses to come forward and anyone with information should contact Derbyshire Police on 0845 1233333 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
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