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Usually it's the driver who needs an interpreter in court cases. And not often Czech is mentioned either


Drunken man fined after attacking Hatfield taxi driver

https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/23248384 ... xi-driver/

An "ashamed" drunken man has been fined almost £1,000 after he attacked a taxi driver in Hatfield last year.

Thomas Skombar, of Indells in Hatfield, was ordered to pay £960 to his victim after appearing at St Albans Crown Court on Thursday (January 12).

He was also being given a 12 month jail sentence suspended for 12 months, forced to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, 10 days of rehabilitation and be on an alcohol abstinence monitor for 120 days.

On May 10, 2021, the victim picked up the 35-year-old from the Roe Green Centre in Bishop’s Rise, but when he refused to stop the car for Skombar to pick up more alcohol, he was attacked.

The driver was grabbed around the neck from behind and struggled to breath before stopping the vehicle in The Downs, dialling 999 and fleeing the scene.

But, having fallen over about 100 metres from the taxi, Skombar attacked the victim again, repeatedly punching him in the face as he suffered a cut lip, a wound above his eye and back pain.

The victim was able to flag down a passing police car and Skombar was arrested, pleading guilty to causing actual bodily harm before appearing for sentencing on Thursday, where he was aided by a Czech interpreter.

Will Noble, defending, said Skombar was of previous good character, but "had been disinhibited by consuming excess alcohol and had an inability to communicate".

"He is ashamed and shocked by what he did. His risk of reoffending is low," he added.

He also said Skombar, who had worked as a chef and in a warehouse, had no friends in the UK and intended to return to his family in the Czech Republic, but that his alcohol problems needed to be addressed.

Recorder Caroline Overton said: "The taxi driver was vulnerable and has been left with permanent scarring.

"The offence was aggravated by alcohol."