Carlisle taxi driver knocked out in row over £25 fare A taxi driver viciously assaulted by a man after he refused to negotiate a fare endured so much pain he wanted to cry, magistrates heard yesterday
David Jackson, 41, carried out the attack outside Carlisle’s railway station after being told that a journey to Gretna would cost £25.
His victim, taxi driver Dariusz Kowalczyk, was first punched through the open window of his cab, then knocked out after he left his vehicle, and then kicked hard as he crawled on all fours, city magistrates heard.
In court yesterday, Jackson, of Falcon Drive, Gretna, pleaded guilty to assaulting his victim by beating him, and guilty to a second charge of using threatening behaviour at Carlisle’s rail station.
Adrienne Harris, prosecuting, described how Mr Kowalczyk had simply been doing his job at 10.30pm, waiting in his cab outside the station when Jackson and his wife approached him.
“She asked how much the fare would be to Gretna, and the complainant said it would be £25, and that the figure was non-negotiable.”
It was at this point that Jackson punched the taxi driver in the face. The cabbie said he believed it was his refusal to barter over the fare that angered Jackson.
Mr Kowalczyk got out of the taxi and recalled seeing Jackson coming towards him, his fists clenched.
“He then recalled waking up on the floor with a pain in the back of his head.”
When he tried to get up Jackson struck again, kicking him from behind “very hard”.
Miss Harris said: “He was immediately doubled up with the pain – and in so much pain that he wanted to cry. Other drivers then came to his assistance.”
From there, Jackson went on to the railway station but staff there would not let him in because of his behaviour. He jabbed his finger at worker Niall Ried, intimidating him and offering to fight.
The defendant calmed down after the arrival of British Transport police officers. In his police interview, he said he had drunk a bottle of wine, missed the last train to Gretna and then drank more.
“He described what had occurred as a mystery,” said the prosecutor.
In court, Jackson, a man of previous good character, said he had apologised to Mr Ried and wanted to apologise to the taxi driver he attacked.
“I had too much to drink,” he said. Magistrates ordered a background report and adjourned the sentencing hearing until February 28.
source:
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