Taxi driver punched in racist attack29 Jun 2013 14:08
Police hunt for passengers seen in street
Scene of assault on taxi driver on Mill Lane, Wallasey A taxi driver was racially abused and then punched in a sick attack by passengers.
The Wirral Satellite Cars driver ended up in hospital after the assault, which took place after he picked up a fare in Birkenhead.
The 35-year-old had picked up five people – three men and two women – in his cab in Price Street, and was taking them to Trafalgar Road in Wallasey when an argument broke out over the route.
The passengers then got out of the taxi by St Albans Church, on the corner of St Albans Road and Mill Lane in Wallasey.
Two of them shouted racist abuse at him, before a woman pushed him and then a man punched him in the head.
The pair were both white, with the woman described as being about 20, 5ft tall with brown hair and the man about 25, about 5ft 8in, with short brown hair and wearing a grey hoodie.
Officers were called to the scene following the attack at around 9.30pm on Monday evening. Merseyside police confirmed the taxi driver had been taken to hospital to be assessed as a precautionary measure, and released a short time later.
While not seriously injured, police said he was left “obviously shaken by the incident”.
A nearby resident who witnessed the attack told the ECHO: “I saw two people outside the taxi arguing very violently with the taxi driver. They seemed to be showing something that they had taken from him as he was trying to get it back.
“He looked slightly disoriented, the woman was being very aggressive and seemed to take a swing to punch or slap him.
“There were two others pushing the two attackers away from the taxi driver.
“I saw an onlooker phone the police and then the two of them walked off.
“This street is usually fairly quiet so to see such aggressive behaviour in broad daylight was shocking and a bit disturbing.”
Wirral Satellite Cars confirmed the driver was now back in work following the attack and said the firm was working with police over the incident.
A spokesman for the taxi firm said: “We don’t condone and will not tolerate what went on. We take these matters very seriously and the driver has our full support. We are co-operating fully with the police and would encourage anyone who can help the investigation to come forward.”
Merseyside Police has launched an appeal for information following the assault. Officers are appealing for anyone who may have been in the area and has any information to contact detectives in the Wirral SIGMA team on 0151 777 2268 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liv ... st-4749997
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