Taxi Driver Online

Passenger to be sentenced for biting taxi driver's ear in horror attack



A TAXI driver has given up his livelihood after a drunken passenger bit off part of his ear.

Former cabbie Chris Harrison may need reconstructive surgery following the unprovoked attack in July in which drunken passenger Dane Hodkinson attempted to tear off part of his ear.

Hodkinson pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and appeared before a senior judge at Liverpool Crown Court for sentence.

However, after learning that Hodkinson was in court earlier this year for another ear biting incident, the judge adjourned the case for further information.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that at about 5am on July 13 this year, taxi driver Christopher Harrison drove to the McDonalds restaurant at the linkway in St Helens to collect a fare, Hodkinson.

CCTV footage was played to the court showing Hodkinson getting into the front passenger seat where he then punched the driver after being asked if he had the fare.

Both men then got out of the car and began to exchange punches.

Tom Watson, prosecuting, said that Hodkinson pulled his victim’s t-shirt over his head, knocked him to the kerb and began to rain blows down on him.

Mr Harrison had pushed his panic button and was screaming for help as Hodkinson began to bite him on the fingers, elbow and then finally took a chunk out of his ear.

After being arrested by police officers, Hodkinson, who had drunk 20 pints followed by jager bombs at a wedding in St Helens, smashed his head on the inside of the police van and tried to say they had assaulted him, but the incident was caught on CCTV.

When he sobered up he said he remembered being in a "scuffle" but later pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The court heard that Hodkinson, of Westleigh Lane, Leigh, has previous convictions for possessing an offensive weapon, threatening behaviour and affray.

Sentencing is expected to take place on October 22.

http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/1155 ... or_attack/

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

Leigh man who bit off taxi driver's ear jailed for 13 years


A DRUNKEN thug who savagely bit off part of a taxi driver's ear just months after biting another man has been given a 13-year sentence.

Dane Hodkinson, of Westleigh Lane, Leigh, carried out a "persistent and vicious attack" on Christopher Harrison in the early hours of July 13 this year.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that at about 5am Mr Harrison went to the McDonalds restaurant at the Linkway in St Helens to collect a fare.

CCTV footage played to the judge showed 26-year-old Hodkinson getting into the front passenger seat where he twice punched the driver after he asked if he had the fare, which he did not.

Both men then got out and punches were exchanged.

Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, the Recorder of Liverpool spoke of how the victim has been left physically and emotionally scarred and has had to give up his livelihood.

He said Hodkinson's ‘animal behaviour’ had caused his victim ‘excruciating pain’ and it must have been a most terrifying experience.

"He had to sell his cab and feels not surprisingly unable ever to return to work as a taxi driver,” he added.

“As well as depression and high blood pressure he now suffers from post traumatic stress disorder.

"You launched a frenzied attack with your fists and with your feet. You tried to bite his ear off, you bit his elbow and fingers, kicked and stamped on him as he lay on the ground.

"You took his keys off him and threw them at him and such was your contempt for him that you laughed.

Tom Watson, prosecuting, said that after being arrested by police, Hodkinson, who had drunk 20 pints followed by Jagerbombs at a wedding in St Helens, continued to be aggressive.

And stated that he smashed his head on the inside of the police van and tried to say they had assaulted him but the incident was caught on CCTV.

When he sobered up he said he remembered being in a ‘scuffle’.

The court heard that his previous convictions include threatening behaviour and affray.

In February he was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon involving using a piece of concrete in a fight with a man armed with a knife.

He bit that man but was not prosecuted for that and received a nine-month suspended prison sentence.

Robert Haygarth, defending, said that after being shown the CCTV footage Hodkinson said that he was ashamed and wished to apologise.

Hodkinson had pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.

source: http://www.leighjournal.co.uk/news/1155 ... s/?ref=rss

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

Another Judge I quite like.

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IDFIMH