Total headbanger alert
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And the other two perps were never found
Teen beat taxi driver with glass bottle in gang attack which left victim with chemical burnshttps://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... s-26110426Declan Day was part of a trio who threw liquid into the face of the taxi driver and pushed his eyes into his sockets
Image: Cleveland Police/Teesside LiveA teenager attacked a Middlesbrough taxi driver in a gang assault which left the victim with chemical burns to his eyes.
Declan Day, along with two male accomplices, hit, kicked, and smashed a glass bottle into the face of the man in a prolonged attack on November 11. Teesside Crown Court heard that one of the men the threw liquid into the face of the licensed cabbie, leaving him needing hospital treatment for chemical burns to his eyes.
Day, 18, was arrested for the attack after an officer was able to identify him from CCTV footage which covers Linthorpe Road. Police have never found his two accomplices.
The three men flagged down the taxi at 4am, as it was turning onto Parliament Road, from Linthorpe Road. They asked to be taken to Park End in North Ormesby but, when the driver asked them for payment, one of the men told him to drive them to his aunt's house on Lytton Court, so he could get the money.
Prosecutor Uzma Khan said that when the man parked up the front seat passenger threw a liquid over him. She said: "A back seat passenger pushed his eyes into his sockets. The driver tried to reverse away, a backseat passenger got out, grabbed the keys from the ignition and began hitting him.
"Day struck him to the head with a glass bottle whilst taking money from his pockets. The bottle caused injuries to his face before bouncing off the windscreen and cracking it.
"The driver sat in shock as the men left. But they then returned and began hitting and kicking him, and asking for more money."
The court heard that the trio then returned for a third time, and "kicked him whilst he beeped his horn for help." The driver then vomited, called the police, before losing consciousness.
Day was found on the roof of Gala Bingo, later that day at 1.15pm. He came down and was arrested, but he became violent. "He headbutted the cell in the police van; he threatened to spit an the officer; and when the back door of the van was opened, he kicked out," Ms Khan continued.
The police put a spit hood on Day and placed him face down on the floor.
Day, of Overdale Road in Park End, Middlesbrough, was found guilty of robbery, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and the possession of a weapon. He admitted assaulting an emergency worker.
The court heard that when the taxi driver was taken to hospital, tests showed that the PH level in his eyes was eight. Doctors said that his eyes had been burnt and he was also treated for cuts to his lip and eyebrow.
He had a sore back and a painful knee. The chemical burns to his eyes did not result in permanent damage.
In a statement, the taxi driver said that he had mental scars from the attack, in addition to the physical ones: "I feel unsafe constantly when doing my job and I now refuse to pick up any young males. This has had a financial affect on my family.
"I am a hard working individual who is just trying to make a living."
John Nixon, defending, said Day who was 17 at the time of the attack, understands that this was a dreadful thing to do. He added: "His behaviour at the young offenders' institute in Wetherby, has been excellent.
"Away from the drugs, it seems as though he's a completely different animal."
Judge Jonathan Carroll told Day: "These offences are genuinely shocking in the extent of the prolonged group violence, you participated in. It was gratuitous violence in excess of what was needed to take you victim's money.
"The group of you told him where to go in order to get the money - it is likely that this was a ruse to get him to an isolated place. The group assaulted him - liquid was thrown into his face, causing burning to his eyes.
"He was punched and struck repeatedly. A second beating started in an attempt to extract more money. You did it again, using a bottle to attack him.
"You continue to deny the offence. I understand that you have had a fractured upbringing, but social services were involved and there have been attempts to help you. You turned your back on this and your offending escalated.
"When you are in custody and free from drugs, it might be that you can turn yourself around."
Day was handed a nine-year custodial term. He was told that he will spend seven years in custody, and the remaining two years in the community, on licence.
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FAQ
But if he hadn't been identified, all three of them might have gotten off scot free. And presumably the driver didn't have CCTV...
