Mum gouged taxi driver in the eye in row over fareA MOTHER-OF-THREE has been jailed after gouging a taxi driver's eye in a row over a fare.
Sonia Moss punched the driver and twice dug her finger nails into his eye and cheek after she refused to pay extra for the fare on Christmas Day.
Nottingham magistrates heard she had been drinking champagne with relatives in Bulwell before getting into the cab with her partner and two of her children.
Neil Hollett, prosecuting, said they were picked up by Central Cars driver Darryl Topham at 9.20pm.
Mr Hollet said Moss told her partner to pay the fare as they arrived home in Welstead Avenue, Aspley.
But when one of the children returned with less change than expected Moss returned to the taxi.
"As the driver wound the window down he was both verbally and physically attacked by the defendant," said Mr Hollet.
"She punched his cheekbone and dug one of her fingers into his right eye and gouged it, dragging her nails across to his nose. She reached in again and dug her nails in his left cheek and raked them across his face, causing a great deal of pain."
The court heard Mr Topham drove away as Moss shouted at him and tried to open his car door. He was left with a bruised right cheek, and scratches to his right eye and left cheek.
Moss was arrested and interviewed by police on January 23.
Mr Hollett said Moss told police she was sorry for what had happened, and had been teetotal since the incident.
Julian Griffiths, in mitigation for Moss, said she had no recollection of the assault.
He said: "Sonia had decided alcohol was not for her, but because it was Christmas Day made an exception and drank more than she should have done. She's been remorseful throughout."
Moss, 36, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault at a previous hearing.
She was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.
The court heard Moss had a previous conviction for common assault in 2002, and received a caution for an affray offence in 2008.
Sentencing Moss, District Judge Leo Pyle said: "This offence was committed against a person providing a public service. What you did amounts to a serious and repeated assault on Mr Topham."
After the hearing, Mr Topham, 41, of St Ann's, said he was pleased with the sentence.
"At the time I couldn't retaliate," he said. "I was a sitting duck and she was drunk."
Read more:
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Mum-g ... z2MHTxswkk
Login
Register
FAQ
