Taxi Driver Online

Carmarthen Journal

August 2, 2006 Wednesday

HEADLINE: Violent cabbie to pay £2,000

A Carmarthen taxi driver who attacked one of his passengers has been ordered to pay £2,000 compensation.

Leslie Wyn Griffiths, aged 37, will lose his taxi operator's licence, a judge heard. Griffiths was appearing at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing following his conviction for assaulting David Phillips causing actual bodily harm.

The court had heard how Griffiths, of The Cedars, Mount Pleasant, Llangunnor, became angry at the behaviour of those travelling with Mr Phillips in the back of his taxi. Griffiths deliberately drove them out of their way and then forced them to leave the vehicle. When he turned the vehicle round, one of the passengers flagged him down and he got out. Mr Phillips was then thrown against the bonnet of the taxi, dislocating his shoulder in the process.

The court heard he was off work for six weeks because of the incident and he made an application for compensation. His barrister, Chris Clee, said Griffiths accepted the injury to Mr Phillips was "unpleasant".

Judge Keith Thomas said Griffiths, a father-of-two, had been in a position of trust and should have acted in a proper manner. He sentenced him to 12 months in jail, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work for the community.

The £2,000 compensation must be paid within three months, he said.
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