Maybe I missed it, but one of the most important facts to this case isn't actually in the article - was the driver in the wrong here as regards where he was, or was the perp here just deliberately getting in the way to stop him passing, like cyclists who are two abreast just to be annoying and block the road, or whatever.
Of course, the most important point is that the perp kicked off. Poor him, though, by the sounds of it
(And kind of reminds me of the Liverpool incident and others - if you get into other people's territory, whether or not it
is by rights
their territory, then they could well kick off
)
Man kicked and spat at taxi in Leicester Royal Infirmary argumenthttps://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news ... r-10325989The incident led to a scuffle involving the taxi driverA man attacked a taxi after its driver got too close behind him and his mother as they walked near Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI). Dashcam footage showed Lester Checkland kicking the vehicle's headlight and spitting on it.
The incident happened in March as 26-year-old Checkland was walking past the stationary taxi with his mother, who was in a mobility scooter. Checkland could be heard shouting at the driver, complaining the area near the LRI he had stopped in was for ambulances only.
The taxi moved off but Checkland and his mother were in the middle of the road, blocking the driver from getting past. As the taxi followed close behind them, Checkland could be seen repeatedly turning around, arms outstretched, shouting at the taxi driver. After about a minute, in which the taxi tried but failed to get safely past them, Checkland carried out the attack.
Footage captured him running at the taxi, spitting at it before kicking the headlight. The taxi driver got out of the vehicle and chased Checkland before a short scuffle between the pair followed. The taxi driver then drove off from the scene.
Both he and Checkland's mother called Leicestershire Police, with her son and the taxi driver later arrested. The case was heard before Leicester Magistrates' Court on Monday (July 7) where prosecutor Sajeela Hussain showed the footage.
She said: "The incident took place at a hospital and there were members of the public and patients there." She said Checkland, who lives very near to the infirmary in De Montfort House, had eight previous offences on his record including criminal damage, common assault and having an offensive weapon.
Richard Jennings, representing Checkland, said his client had no friends and suffered with various mental health problems. Mr Jennings added that there was no damage caused to the taxi.
He said: "Mr Checkland went through special schooling and has some considerable challenges in life. He has emotionally unstable personality disorder and depression and anxiety. He did have friends but they wanted him to go out carrying weapons and steal cars and they have now turned on him and he is subject to abuse by them."
Checkland, who had earlier pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence, was given a 12-month community order with 25 days on programmes recommended by the probation service. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
Chair of the bench, Elaine Swanson, said: "This was in a public place with a high footfall of people around at the time. But we've been told about your difficulties and your mental disabilities as well."
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