Taxi Driver Online

Leicester man jailed for 'thug' attack on minicab driver



A "drunken thug" who attacked a minicab driver, leaving him with a broken eye socket, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Anthony Bott (22) was arrested after a police appeal in the Leicester Mercury.

​Bott was sentenced at Leiceste Crown Court

Passengers who shared the cab trip home with him came forward after seeing the news report.

They were dropped off earlier during the journey, after a night out in the city centre, and did not see the attack.

Bott was the last to be taken home.

He announced he had no money, for the £9 remainder of the fare, when he arrived near his home in Netherhall, Leicester.

The private hire driver said he would call the police.

Bott then attacked him, in the early hours of Sunday, February 26, last year, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Gary Short, prosecuting, said Bott was drunk after consuming 12 pints of lager.

He said: "The defendant punched him in the face twice.

"It caused him to fall to the ground and at that point, the defendant simply walked away."

He said the victim got to his feet and phoned the police.

Mr Short said: "There was a police appeal in the Leicester Mercury and three girls who had earlier shared the journey came forward to give statements and named this defendant.

"He was arrested on March 1 and in interview asserted he didn't realise he had no money.

"He said the driver asked for the fare and he said he would go inside to get some money, but the driver didn't want that to happen.

"He claimed he was acting in self-defence, fearing an attack from this 53-year-old man.

"The police then charged him."

Bott, of Netherhall Road, Leicester, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The victim suffered a fractured eye socket and facial injuries. He has ongoing dental problems that will cost nearly £500 to resolve.

Judge Simon Hammond said: "I congratulate the Leicester Mercury, because people came forward and information was passed leading to an arrest.

"This man behaved like a drunken thug.

"Taxi drivers perform a very important public service, taking people home after public transport has stopped.

"They are vulnerable and deserve protection from the courts, especially from drunken men who use violence towards them."

In mitigation, the court heard that Bott, who works in the plumbing trade, was supported by family, friends and his employer who had all attended court.

He was a hard-working young man, who acted wholly out of character, said his defence advocate, Steven Newcombe.


Read more: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/L ... z2NDngZ7Jv

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Taxi driver says jail term 'what attacker deserved'


A taxi driver says he still suffers flashbacks more than a year after he was assaulted by a passenger.

Avtar Singh spoke out after his attacker was jailed for two-and-a-half years for an assault which left the 53-year-old cabbie with a fractured eye socket and other facial injuries.

Leicester Crown Court heard last week that Anthony Bott, of Netherhall Road, Leicester, had drunk 12 pints of lager when he turned violent after telling the driver he did not have enough money to cover his fare.

Mr Singh, a married father of five, of Oadby, welcomed the prison sentence handed to Bott.

He said: "I've been driving a taxi since 1985 and nothing like this had happened to me before.

"I remember him punching me in the face twice and I fell to the ground. I thought he was going to kill me, but he ran away.

"I think the sentence he has been given is fair and reflects the seriousness of what he did to me. I think he has got what he deserved.

"A lot of taxi divers have been attacked in Leicester and we are vulnerable because we work alone late at night.

"People can be nice when they are sober, but after they have had a lot to drink they are from a different planet. The alcohol changes them.

"I was off work for two weeks because of my injuries but I had to get on with things and go back to driving.

"Sometimes when I have customers who have had a lot to drink, I think back to what he did to me and I get worried. But this is my livelihood. I couldn't let him take that away from me."

Bott (22) was arrested after a police appeal in the Mercury following the attack, in February last year.

Passengers who shared the cab with him came forward after seeing the appeal.

They had been dropped off earlier, after a night out in the city centre and did not see the attack.

Bott announced he had no money, for the £9 remainder of the fare, when he arrived near his home in Netherhall.

He turned violent when Mr Singh said he would call the police.

Pc Claire Middleton said: "We are pleased with the conviction and grateful to the victim and witnesses who came forward with information which led to Bott being identified and put before the courts.

"Without their support, we may never have got this result.

"We hope this sentence reassures the victim. No-one should be subjected to this type of thoughtless act of violence, especially when all the victim was doing was trying to earn a living."

In mitigation, the court heard Bott was supported by family, friends and his employer.

He was a hard-working man who acted wholly out of character, said defence advocate Steven Newcombe.


Read more: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/T ... z2O4Mr9Zdt

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin