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| Durham gypsy punched driver after being told £200 sickie fee https://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=41282 |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Tue Mar 18, 2025 3:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Durham gypsy punched driver after being told £200 sickie fee |
...although presumably the driver was effectively saying he would overcharge here? Bishop Auckland man took exception to Durham taxi driver's comment https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/ ... s-comment/ A would-be taxi passenger lost his temper with the driver after being told that if his wife was sick in his car it would cost him a £200 repair bill. Durham Crown Court heard that defendant John Harrop had been out with his wife having a few drinks in the city on December 27, 2023, but at the end of the evening they went looking for a taxi to take them home to the Bishop Auckland area. The court was told that as Mr Harrop’s wife was quite intoxicated some other drivers were not prepared to give them a lift. One driver, however, told the defendant he would take them home, but on the basis they would be charged £200 if she was sick in his car. Fiona Clancy, prosecuting, said the defendant seemed to take exception at this and told the Asian driver: “I’m a Gypsy, you f***ing b**** b*****d.” He then delivered a single forceful punch to the driver’s face, causing injuries to his nose and upper gum. Harrop was said to have continued shouting racist abuse as he then walked away. The 37-year-old defendant of Green Lane, Bishop Auckland, admitted a single charge of racially or religiously aggravated assault. Miss Clancy told the court it was aggravated as the defendant was intoxicated at the time and because he has previous convictions for offences of violence, and because of the racist slurs. “It’s clearly caused distress to the victim, who has lost out some business as he was unable to work for a few nights, as a result of his injuries.” Tony Davis, for Harrop, said: “Paradoxically, had he not been impaired with alcohol, this argument would not have escalated like it did and he’s deeply ashamed by what he did.” Mr Davis presented the court with character references on behalf of the defendant, some of them from people he has encountered in trap harness racing both in the UK and abroad. “It’s cost him a great deal, not simply in financial terms but reputationally, with owners of livestock horses that he looks after, and he’s expressed his great regret. “It’s been a salutary experience for him, throughout these proceedings. “He’s apologised to these people because of the racist language he has used. “This has cost him an awful lot, for this one drunken episode.” Mr Davis said the remorse is genuine and not just because of the consequences of such a conviction. “There’s been no repetition since December 2023. “He’s had an opportunity to demonstrate he can behave in a lawful fashion. “This was a one-punch situation, not followed up at all and clearly was aggravated by the racial slurs he uttered at the time.” Judge Richard Bennett told Harrop he left the driver “shocked” and losing fares. “He was only doing his job and did nothing to provoke you from being violent. “He took several days off work at a busy time of the year for him. “It was a short-lived assault but not in self-defence. “You do have a record for violence, but I accept it was ten years or more ago.” The judge told Harrop he had read a pre-sentence Probation Service report in which the defendant, himself, reported having suffered from racism and stereotyping because of his traveller status. But he said it was to his credit that he had an insight into his offending that night and has, “a strong work ethic, being highly involved with horses, having enjoyed great success in harness racing.” The judge added: “Had you not been drunk those words may not have been uttered.” He passed a 32-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, with a requirement to complete 150 hours’ unpaid work. Harrop must also pay his victim £1,200 compensation at the rate of £150 per month. |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Tue Mar 18, 2025 3:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Durham gypsy punched driver after being told £200 sickie |
Quote: Tony Davis, for Harrop, said: “Paradoxically, had he not been impaired with alcohol, this argument would not have escalated like it did and he’s deeply ashamed by what he did.” Not sure that's a proper use of the word 'paradoxically'  Quote: Mr Davis presented the court with character references on behalf of the defendant, some of them from people he has encountered in trap harness racing both in the UK and abroad.
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| Author: | StuartW [ Tue Mar 18, 2025 3:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Durham gypsy punched driver after being told £200 sickie |
Quote: Mr Davis presented the court with character references on behalf of the defendant, some of them from people he has encountered in trap harness racing both in the UK and abroad. “It’s cost him a great deal, not simply in financial terms but reputationally, with owners of livestock horses that he looks after, and he’s expressed his great regret. I'd guess that in fact he has a reputation as an utter crazy - the incident below actually happened at one of these harness thingies. Not to mention the separate road rage thing  But this is presumably the earlier violence referred to by the judge above, although whether there's been other stuff in the intervening period isn't clear...  John Harrop jailed over ear-biting incident at York Harness Raceway, near Green Hammerton https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/471126 ... hammerton/ 30th October 2009 A THUG who attacked an official at a race meeting near York, and bit off part of a man’s ear during a road rage row, has been jailed for four-and-a-half years Talented harness racer John Harrop repeatedly whipped John Delaney with his riding crop at York Harness Raceway, near Green Hammerton, after Harrop had been asked to leave the track while horses got under starter’s orders. Bystanders tried to intervene as Harrop, 21, carried out the assault on April 18. Harrop, who is from a family of travellers, said he had been abused during a row, but a judge ruled there had been no racist provocation. At the time, Harrop was on bail for an earlier road rage incident, which had happened in Darlington, Teesside Crown Court was told. Chris Baker, prosecuting, said Terence Stevens and his partner were in his work van with their two toddlers in Yarm Road in August last year. Mr Stevens pulled over when a stone was thrown at his vehicle from a BMW convertible, and approached the car, in which Harrop was the front-seat passenger. The two men started fighting, and Mr Stevens was said to have been getting the better of his Harrop until the traveller bit part of his ear off. Harrop then kicked Mr Stevens a number of times in the head and punched his partner in the ribs when she tried to intervene. Harrop, who was living on the Green Lane caravan site, in Bishop Auckland, at the time of the attack, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assault, and assault causing actual bodily harm. Graeme Gaston, in mitigation, said Harrop had been experimenting with steroids and suffered a relationship breakdown in the months before the incidents. Mr Gaston told the court that time in custody on remand had made Harrop examine his behaviour. York Harness Raceway describes itself as England’s premier circuit for harness racing, which is similar to chariot racing. |
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| Author: | edders23 [ Tue Mar 18, 2025 5:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Durham gypsy punched driver after being told £200 sickie |
Quote: Not sure that's a proper use of the word 'paradoxically' seems OK to me IMO. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Tue Mar 18, 2025 9:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Durham gypsy punched driver after being told £200 sickie |
Quote: “He’s apologised to these people because of the racist language he has used. But no apology for the punch in the mouth. 
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