Brighton and Hove taxi driver victim of attack with glass bottlehttps://www.theargus.co.uk/news/2319152 ... ss-bottle/
A taxi driver has told of the “vicious” attack he suffered when a passenger smashed his head with a bottle, breaking his nose.
The 28 year old from Brighton was so badly beaten his head had to be stitched together with five staples after he was attacked driving a man and a woman from Portslade station just before 2am on Monday morning.
He said they “seemed nice” but tensions rose when he said he could not drive up Findon Road, Whitehawk, due to it being too “dangerous and slippery”.
The taxi driver, who works for Streamline Taxis, was left with a broken nose, a cut behind his ear and needed staples in his head.
The man, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “The passenger said he wouldn’t pay me if I didn’t go up the road.
“He then jumped out the window head first so I went to see if he was alright. I knew he was doing a runner but I thought he might have hurt himself.
“I came out my car, as soon as I went near him he smashed me with a bottle to my face. I blacked out for a second, when I came back to consciousness I felt another hit on my head. The glass smashed and my head was really badly bleeding.
“The girl came out the car. He warned me that he had a knife and would stab me. I didn’t see a knife but he was reaching to his leg. They ran away towards Whitehawk Road and I went to A&E.
“They were in their late teens or early 20s.”
The man, who is a self-employed driver and father-of-one, has not been able to work since but says he might try to return next week.
He is not eligible for sick pay from Streamline Taxis but the company and its drivers have rallied around and donated £500 to a fundraiser to help him while he is off work. It has now raised more than £700 since being created three days ago.
The driver added: “He was not bothered about what was going to happen to me. He was really vicious.
“I could have easily died from this. The doctor said I had a very lucky escape here.
“I have been outside with my friends a few times but I’m just recovering at the moment. I have five stitches and a broken nose.
“I feel like I should go back to work otherwise it could stay with me for longer. As soon as I feel comfortable I will come back.
“I came here to work for me and my family. I came here to make a living, not rely on the state.
“When this stuff happens, it’s really disheartening to be honest.”
The driver, who studied Civil Engineering at Brighton University while working, hopes the man can be brought to justice.
A spokesman for Streamline Taxis said: “We were all totally shocked that one of our drivers was attacked while simply carrying out his job and there is absolutely no excuse for this happening.
“This highlights the dangers of where a cab driver is in such close proximity of strangers where they have no idea of what state of mind they are in or what their intentions are.
“Thankfully all Brighton and Hove licensed taxis and private hire cars have council controlled CCTV for both the protection of the driver and passenger and we understand that the police will be using the captured images to take this matter forward.”
Sussex Police are investigating the attack, which happened around 1.50am in Findon Road, Whitehawk.
A spokesman said: “A man and a woman, believed to have been passengers in the taxi, then fled the scene in the direction of Whitehawk Road.
“An investigation is ongoing to identify any suspects.”
For more information on the fundraiser, click here.
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