Thug Jailed Over Taxi Driver Attack
11th July 2009
A violent thug who beat a taxi driver so ferociously that his head swelled to more than double its normal size has been sentenced to almost four years in prison.
Daniel Gregory, 29, attacked the innocent cabbie after a ride with his baby daughter. He punched him in the face during an ongoing feud with the taxi firm for whom he worked.
After knocking him unconscious with one powerful blow, the father-of-four stole Samuel Obeng's takings, along with his mobile phone and satellite navigation system.
Gregory then threatened to kill the battered driver's family if he reported the incident to police.
Mr Obeng was left so badly injured in the unprovoked attack that his own daughter did not recognise him and he could not open one eye for a week.
Gregory, who has 21 previous convictions for offences, including robbery and assaulting a police officer, appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after jurors found him guilty of causing actual bodily harm and theft.
He was also convicted of two counts of perverting the course of justice – one for making the threats to kill and one for attempting to pay off Mr Obeng with "a couple of grand" after the assault.
Gregory was also sentenced in relation to an affray at a pub where he poured a pint of beer over a waitress and threw a glass at bar staff. He had earlier admitted the charge.
During his trial, jurors at Northampton Crown Court heard how Gregory, of Goodwin Road, Wellingborough, lashed out at the taxi driver after a journey with two other pals and his baby daughter.
He was upset Mr Obeng, who worked for Wellingborough-based taxi firm 24-7, had refused to pick him up earlier in the day because he believed he was banned for not paying previous fares.
Mr Obeng was left so traumatised by the attack, which happened while Gregory was on bail for another offence, he has moved out of the area and stopped driving taxis.
Describing Gregory's record as "appalling", Judge Tom Corrie said: "You are obviously a violent man who cannot control his temper and it appears you have something of a reputation in Wellingborough as being a hard man.
"You beat him (Mr Obeng) with a single but powerful punch, which knocked him out and his face was twice the normal size."
He sentenced Gregory to three months in prison for the affray offence, a total of 33 months for the offences of causing actual bodily harm, theft and perverting the course of justice by issuing threats, and nine months for perverting the course of justice by bribing a witness.
The judge deducted the 223 days Gregory has already spent in custody from the sentence.
Source; Northants Evening Telegraph - northantset.co.uk
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