Taxi Driver Online

Man who punched cabbie and hijacked taxi with three passengers in the back is jailed

A 21-year-old man with no driving licence who punched a taxi driver and took his cab with three passengers in the back has been sent to jail. Ekram Hussain, of Bluebell Close, Malvern, was over the drink-drive limit when he sped away in the Mercedes people carrier and went on a ten minute journey from the centre of Malvern ignoring the three passengers telling him to pull over, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Police sent several vehicles to the area in Malvern Link after Hussain stopped the cab, which rolled back and hit the woman passenger who had got out, and then ran off.

A helicopter was called in to help in the search for him as he tried to evade capture by ducking through alleyways at about 4am on February 28, Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, told the court. He was not wearing a shirt though it was cold and when he was spotted by another man he said, "I've just robbed a taxi," Mr Aspinall said. He was found in Madresfield Road hiding behind a car.

Hussain pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm, aggravated vehicle taking, failing to give a specimen of breath and driving with no licence or insurance.

Mr Aspinall said Hussain had been at a nightclub in Malvern and had tried to get into the taxi at about 3am with the woman he was with. There were already two passengers and the driver refused to take him, threatening to drive straight to the police station. The woman got in but there was a scuffle between Hussain and the driver. Hussain punched him and knocked him to the floor where he lost consciousness for a second and had to be treated by a paramedic.

Hussain got into the driver's seat and was described by one of the other passengers as "panicking" as he drove off while they kept telling him to stop.

Judith Kenney, defending, said Hussain did not normally drink and he was full of remorse, particularly for the shame he had brought on his family. She said he had recently become a father and had qualifications in plumbing and construction but had been unable to find a job so he had been working in a restaurant while caring for his sick grandmother.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright said the potential harm arising from Hussain, who had no licence or insurance, driving with three passengers while over the limit was so serious it could only be met with an immediate jail sentence. He was jailed for 12 months.

He was also banned from driving for 12 months and will have to take an extended test and his licence will be endorsed for the driving offences.

_________________
IDFIMH