Taxi Driver Is Punched And Knocked To Ground
26th September 2008
A taxi driver screamed for help when a passenger who refused to pay suddenly attacked, a court heard.
Jamie Cornes, aged 21, told the Pakistani driver to “go back to your own country, go back to where you’re from” as he beat him up.
The driver was punched repeatedly, knocked to the ground and kicked, before he managed to escape.
At Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, Cornes, of Skyrrold Road, Malvern, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault and making off without paying.
He was picked up outside Tramps nightclub in Worcester and taken to Malvern. He was with two females and early on in the journey asked the driver to go back and collect a male friend.
Prosecutor Rachel Lile said Cornes was initially “very pleasant” and, it being January, had asked the driver about his Christmas.
An argument broke out when the male friend refused to pay. He threw a bag of chips onto the floor and was asked to get out, but the taxi continued and then dropped the girls off.
When Cornes reached Malvern the fare was £25. He got out of the car and came to the driver’s window, but then opened the door and began his attack.
“He grabbed the driver at the back of the neck,” said Miss Lile.
“He pulled him. The driver held onto the steering wheel. When he turned the engine off, the defendant started punching him. "
“He was shouting, ‘Go back to your own country, go back to where you come from’ ".
“He ran down the street, but the defendant hit him in the shoulder. He knocked him to the ground and kicked him. The driver was screaming for help.”
The assault ended when the driver went back to the car and drove away.
Miss Lile said the driver was shocked by the violent and unprovoked attack.
“He could not understand why he was attacked,” she said. “He was shaken and upset. When reporting the incident to police he found it difficult to talk about what had happened and cried a number of times.”
District judge Bruce Morgan said his powers of punishment were not enough and Cornes should be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court.
He was released on unconditional bail until Friday, October 24.
Source; Worcester News
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