New dad beats up taxi driver after crisps rowGOING off the rails after finding out his partner was pregnant, a 21-year-old from Much Dewchurch handed out an unprovoked and “appalling” beating to an innocent taxi driver after a dispute over a packet of crisps.
Hereford Crown Court heard on Thursday (October 23) how Connor Kaye punched Edward Brazier to the floor in a sustained and violent attack that saw him attempting to head butt and kick the helpless taxi driver as his Kaye’s friends tried to hold him back.
However the new father – he now has a four-week-old son – walked out of court with a suspended sentence and a hefty 120-hour unpaid work order.
Judge Toby Hooper told the court how Kaye and his friends got in to Mr Brazier’s taxi after a night out in Hereford in May that had left Kaye “foully drunk”.
He had just found out that he was to be a father which, Michael Aspinall, defending, said, had come as a shock to Kaye, of Chapel Cottage.
While driving the group to Kingstone, Mr Brazier repeatedly and politely asked Kaye to stop eating in his cab.
When Kaye ignored his requests, he pulled over, opened the passenger door and told him he would have to get out if he continued to eat his crisps in the car.
With the situation seemingly resolved, the journey continued until Kaye – a fencer by trade – asked to be let out.
After getting out, he slammed the taxi’s door so hard it damaged its hinges and casing, the court heard.
When Mr Brazier came round the car to inspect the damage Kaye punched him to the head and face, with little success, before attempting to head butt the driver.
Mr Brazier was able to restrain the drunk, however, releasing him when he thought the young man’s violence had been quelled, Kaye unleashed a flurry of blows knocking the taxi driver to the floor, in an attack that has left him with ongoing injuries, and forced him off work for three weeks.
Mr Aspinall told the court Kaye had long-suffered from depression, and during the taxi journey he had told his friends “my life is s**t”.
However he added that fatherhood had had a significant effect on the young man.
“He changes nappies and no longer goes out drinking to excess,” Mr Aspinall said.
Judge Hooper said Kaye had showed genuine remorse and gave credit for an early guilty plea to both charges, causing actual bodily harm and causing criminal damage.
He said: “Your initial claims you acted in self-defence were clearly rubbish.
“This was a desperately serious case, and an appalling beating.
“I could not be said to be wrong to send you immediately to prison – but I must consider whether the objectives of sentence may be better met through a suspended sentence.”
Kaye was handed a 12-month custodial sentence – suspended for 18 months – an unpaid work order and compensation of £1000 to be paid to Mr Brazier over six months.
http://www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk/news/ ... 1559291._/
Login
Register
FAQ
