Taxi Driver Online

Drunken brutal attack on cabbie


A FORMER Perth man who terrorised staff at a taxi office escaped jail when he appeared at the Sheriff Court.

Instead, 51-year-old Patrick Manion was fined £600 and ordered to pay £300 compensation to the taxi driver he brutally attacked.

Sheriff Michael Fletcher told Manion: “Taxi drivers are in a vulnerable position and a custodial sentence was high up on the list of potential disposals.

“However, in this case I am prepared to deal with this by way of a financial penalty, and compensation order.”

The court was told that Manion, who now lives in London, repeatedly struck Izzat Aziz Mohammed when he took issue with his fare dodging.

He then caused a rumpus the next night by brazenly returning to the scene of his outburst to search for his missing mobile phone.

Depute fiscal Stuart Richard son said Manion decided to let his fists do the talking near the McNeill Taxis office in Craigie at around midnight, following a night out.

“Mr Manion, who was with some friends, asked to be taken to another area of Perth,” the depute fiscal said.

“Mr Mohammed drove his taxi off in that direction and a dispute arose after Mr Manion said he wouldn’t be paying the fare.

“Once he had been told that, Mr Mohammed about-turned in the taxi and drove back to outside the taxi office, where the journey had started.

“Upon arrival there, Mr Manion lost his temper and began to assault Mr Mohammed both inside the taxi and outside by punching him repeatedly.”

Manion fled after the attack, which left the driver with grazing to his head and nose, but not requiring medical treatment.

However, taxi staff discovered his mobile inside the cab and contacted the police, who attended at St Leonard’s Bridge.

After officers had gone, Manion returned looking for his handset and was told it was in police hands.

“He didn’t accept that and began shouting and swearing at the lady who was working at the taxi office,” said Mr Richardson.

“He shouted: ‘You don’t know who you are dealing with’.

Police were again contacted and Manion arrested.

Manion (51), of Oakley Road, Islington, admitted assaulting Mr Mohammed in Priory Place and conducting himself in a disorderly manner at McNeill Taxis, threatening violence, placing people in a state of fear and alarm and committing a breach of the peace.

Solicitor Cliff Culley said his client had been drinking heavily at a reunion in Perth.

“He acted in a totally inappropriate manner and now accepts that,” he added.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin