Taxi Driver Online

Not the worst of incidents, but would be interesting to know what happened previously that led the driver to refuse the perp.


'Intoxicated' dad punched taxi driver in 'distressing' attack after being refused fare

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... r-22148576

The taxi driver refused to take Alexander Clayton in his vehicle after a 'previous incident'


Image: Teesside Live

An “intoxicated” dad assaulted a taxi driver after he refused to let him in his cab.

Alexander Clayton delivered a single blow to the man’s head which left him requiring hospital treatment.

The driver “refused” to take the 27-year-old in his vehicle which escalated into a “distressing” attack.

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The Billingham man appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for sentencing.

He previously admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on May 15.

Prosecutor Cheryl Ford told how the victim is a taxi driver who was doing his last run of the night from Stockton to Billingham.

The court heard how the man “recognised” the male who was “trying to get into the cab” as he had a “previous incident” with him.

The driver “refused” to take him on the journey he had been booked for.

However, Clayton then became “aggressive towards him” and demanded that he “got out of the car”.

Single blow to head

When the man remained seated in his cab, Clayton approached the driver’s side door “punched him to the right side of his head” and his eyebrow “bled instantly”.

The taxi driver attended the University Hospital of North Tees’ A&E department where the wound was “glued” back together.

In a victim impact statement, read aloud to the court, the man told how he wanted Clayton to be “accountable for his actions”.

“I was doing my job,” the driver said.

'Out of character'

Andrew Foster, mitigating, said Clayton “accepted wrongdoing” and entered a prompt guilty plea in September.

He said the “distressing” incident was “out of character” but “short lived”.

Mr Foster outlined how Clayton works shifts and has a “young child”.

The court also heard how the pre-sentence report outlined that Clayton was “intoxicated”, although he disputes he “wasn’t drunk”.

District judge Steven Hood said the victim was a “person doing their job” and providing a “service to the public”.

“They are entitled to go to work without the risk of assaults occurring,” he added.

Clayton was handed an 18 month community order with 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.

Clayton, of Mainsforth Drive, Billingham, was also ordered to pay £380, including £200 compensation to the driver and £85 court costs.

At a guess I would say he was a pi***d up nuisance.

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IDFIMH