Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver stabbed in ‘senseless’ attack
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A taxi driver nearly died after being stabbed in the neck in an act of “senseless and unpredictable violence”. Paul Wadkin, 28, plunged the blade into the neck of 22-year-old Tauseef Ahmed moments after he had been laughing and joking with him as they drove around Leeds.

Wadkin was jailed indefinitely yesterday after a judge ruled he posed a serious risk of causing serious harm or death to members of the public. Wadkin had recently been released from prison on licence from an eight year sentence of robbery when he attacked Mr Ahmed in a street off Leeds Ring Road at Belle Isle on January 5 this year.

Earlier in the evening he had gone to see a friend who lived on Belle Isle Road and borrowed the weapon and some clothes so he could go out and commit burglaries. Later he got into Mr Ahmed’s taxi in Harehills and was driven back to south Leeds where he bought crack cocaine.

Heather Gilmore, prosecuting, said Wadkin showed Mr Ahmed the drugs and offered him some moments before attacking him with the knife. Mr Ahmed managed to fight him off and drive off but a short time later contacted emergency services as he was bleeding heavily. Medics found him in a life threatening condition. He suffered a collapsed lung and spent 12 days in hospital.

Wadkin, who has 21 convictions for 113 previous offences, was arrested the following day for absconding from his bail hostel and later admitted the attack when interviewed in Armley jail. He pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.

Andrew Semple, mitigating, said Wadkin had suffered abuse as a youngster and the attack was as a result of him being unable to face his “demons.”

Judge Scott Wolstenholme said: “What he did was take a knife to somebody and plunge it into his neck because he felt miserable”. The judge imposed the indeterminate sentence after telling Wadkin he was “unpredictable” and posed a danger. He must serve a minimum of four years before he can apply to the parole board for release

Det Supt Paul Taylor, of West Yorkshire Police’s major inquiry team, said: “The level of violence displayed by Paul Wadkin towards a defenceless man was entirely unjustified, and it is remarkable that Mr Rashid was fortunate enough to make a full recovery.

“It became clear during the early stages of the inquiry that residents of Belle Isle are not prepared to put up with such violence on their doorstep, and it is in part due to the spirit within the local community that we were able to bring this man to justice.

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IDFIMH

And the moon is made of f***ing cheese.

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IDFIMH