Taxi Driver Online

Drunk who hurled racist insults at taxi driver walks free

15 June 2010

A drunk racially abused an Asian cab driver after he asked for the £10 fare upfront, a court heard.

Taher Saleh, aged 34, from Yemen, called black cab driver Shoukat Ali a '[edited by admin] b******' and challenged him to a fight outside the Nursery Tavern, on Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.

Sheffield Crown Court heard dad-of-seven Saleh, of Etwall Way, Firth Park, also made racist remarks to a 999 call operator after ringing police himself.

Christopher Tonge, prosecuting, said Saleh approached the cab rank after 11pm on December 27 last year.

Mr Ali's taxi was first in the queue, but Saleh chose to approach the second cab.

Mr Tonge said Saleh was told to go to the first taxi, and asked Mr Ali to take him to Shiregreen.

"Mr Ali took the view that the defendant was drunk, and wanted to make sure he would be paid, so asked for a £10 deposit.

"The defendant reacted in an aggressive manner. He called Mr Ali a '[edited by admin] b*******'."

Mr Tonge said the taxi driver - who describes himself as a British citizen of Asian descent - tried to calm Saleh down, but he continued being abusive and challenged Mr Ali to a fight.

He also pushed his arm through the gap in the partition separating taxi passengers from the driver.

Mr Ali drove away from the scene before Saleh made two 999 calls.

"He shouted at the operator and referred to a Pakistani as a 'person not even worthy of my excrement'.

"Saleh said: 'Send the police, arrest me,' and the operator replied: 'Yes, I'm going to'."

Officers arrested Saleh for being drunk and disorderly and he later admitted racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

Chloe Barton, defending, said Saleh viewed the request for a deposit as a "personal slight".

"His perception was skewed," she said. "He accepts his behaviour was unwarranted and unacceptable."

Sentencing him to a one year community order and a three month curfew, Judge Michael Murphy QC said: "What happened that night was really all about too much drink. You of all people will know how hurtful it is just to pick on someone because of the colour of their skin, where they come from or their religion."

Source; http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/Drun ... 6361872.jp

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

12 months banged up then deport him

the sooner immigrants realise what can happen when they offend the sooner they will either behave or not bother coming here

i also propose no bail at all for anyone offending unless they uk nationals