Men attacked by 'taxi' thugsTWO men were beaten with a baseball bat after getting into a bogus taxi.
Now police are warning people to make sure they use only genuine private hire taxis or black cabs for their journeys.
It comes after Adam Leach and Paul Griffiths were left with broken bones and bruises after they were ambushed by a gang on their way home from Bolton town centre in what they believed was a private hire taxi.
The pair got into the “taxi” in Bradshawgate to go to Breightmet and, when they asked how much the fare would be, they were told it was £15.
They rang the Metro operator, who they believed the car belonged to, to complain about the price and, when they gave the driver’s ID number, were told he did not work for the taxi firm.
The car stopped in Bradford Street, Bolton, near to Bojangles Nursery. The driver then spoke to another man in a passing minibus, which left soon after.
Mr Griffiths got out and held on to the steering wheel to stop the man in the “taxi” from driving off.
But then an Audi A4 pulled up alongside the “taxi” and Mr Griffiths was attacked, while Mr Leach was still in the car.
As he got out, a gang in the Audi turned on him. Mr Leach, aged 21, who suffered a broken hand, said: “We rang the company up and they said they would send a supervisor out.
“Then, within minutes, an Audi A4 pulled up and we were beaten up. They whacked my hand and the back of my head with a metal baseball bat. “Then the cars — the Audi and the “taxi” — both sped off. I was shaken up and I am wary and paranoid now.”
Mr Griffiths, aged 22, added: “I was shocked by what happened.
Fortunately, I was not badly injured. I just had a bruised rib.
“We saw two women nearby and shouted at them to call the police and then they left after doing so.”
Taxi bosses have urged people to make sure they get into licensed vehicles or black cabs.
Metro boss Nick Astley said: “There are bogus drivers going around Bolton, illegally plying for hire.
“It is a serious problem, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights when people have been drinking — they just get in any car that turns up.
I really feel for these two men and hope the police find out who did this.”
The incident happened at about 9pm on Saturday, February 4, when it was snowing.
The men’s attacker is described as Asian, between 25 and 28 years old, about 5ft 10in tall, of large chubby build with a shaved head. He was in the company of three others, described as Asian, about 20 years old and 5ft 8in tall.
Unfortunately, the victims could not provide a description of the “taxi” car.
Insp Wayne Readfern, from the Bolton East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Two men, who were trying to prevent getting ripped off by the driver, have ended up being attacked by a man with a baseball bat. It is unclear exactly who these men are and I am keen to hear from anyone with information about them or any of the vehicles involved.
“I would also like to thank the taxi operator with whom the two men ordered a cab for the firm’s full co-operation throughout this investigation.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5660, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/958 ... xi__thugs/
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