Taxi Driver Online

Sussex teen claims cabbie pulled a knife in fare row

A teenager claims he was attacked by a knife-wielding taxi driver after an argument over a fare. The 18-year-old from Newhaven, was left with marks on his arms and the back of his neck after the assault in the early hours of Sunday.

His father, himself a former taxi driver, is hoping CCTV from the city centre could help identify the taxi driver. The assault took place in Old Steine, at a taxi rank outside the Revenge nightclub, at about 4.30am.

The victim said he asked to go to Newhaven but the driver told him the fare would cost £40 and he had to hand over his mobile phone as a guarantee of payment. When he told the driver he thought the price was too high and got out, the man refused to give him his phone back.

He told police the driver hit him when he tried to grab the phone off the passenger seat - and he thought he could see a Stanley knife in the taxi driver’s hand. He suffered minor cuts in the attack.

His 61-year-old father said his son did not wish to be named. He told The Argus: “The lacerations weren’t deep enough for stitches. “It could have been much worse. “We have kept the shirt he was wearing, the marks on it match the wounds on his arm.”

Police confirmed they received a report of an assault and are planning to take a full statement from the victim on Wednesday. The driver was described as between 25 and 30 years old, stocky, with short black hair, wearing a brown jumper.

The victim’s father said the attacker must be found to stop him posing a threat to other passengers. He said: “What if he does the same thing next week or the week after? “Somebody should be working to stop this guy. “I worked in taxis for a long time and nobody has ever heard of a driver using a blade before.”

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “If there is a complaint against a taxi driver we are very keen to hear it and we will always carry out a very thorough investigation.

”Taxi drivers licensed by Brighton and Hove City Council have to undergo stringent testing. “This includes a police criminal records bureau check, references, a birth certificate, passport, full driving licence, competion of a taxi or private hire driving test, a disability awareness and customer care coruse.

“All the vehicles clearly display the registered licence on the rear and they should be very clearly identifiable.”

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