Cobridge alcoholic smashed roof of taxi with rock after refusing to pay fare ALCOHOLIC Tiona Benzerell battered a taxi with a rock and caused more than £200 damage after refusing to pay the fare.
The 35-year-old swore at cabbie Rahimollah Paisaei when he asked for
£4 after driving her from Stafford Street, Hanley, to her home in Waterloo Road, Cobridge.
She was chased by Mr Paisaei after she jumped out of his Toyota Avensis and headed towards nearby flats.
But Benzerell then became abusive before hitting the vehicle with the stone at around 6.10pm on January 9.
Prosecutor Steve Knowles told magistrates: "He realised he wasn't going to get his fare, returned to the vehicle and sat in the vehicle.
"Miss Benzerell picked up a large stone, walked to the taxi and hit the roof with the stone. She dropped the stone and ran to the flats."
Staff at a nearby nursery approached the taxi driver and phoned the police.
North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Benzerell was arrested but she denied the offence. She later pleaded guilty to criminal damage.
Lee Yates, defending, told the court Benzerell had a history of alcohol abuse but this was the first time she had agreed to take help for it.
He said: "Between her guilty plea and attendance today she's kept an appointment with Aquarius so alcohol treatment assistance could be carried out."
Mr Yates said Benzerell has previously rejected support from probation and defied court community orders.
He added: "She comes before the court today perhaps at something of a watershed.
"When she entered her guilty plea she conceded for the first time alcohol is becoming a problem for her.
"It's quite clear a number of her offences are linked to her alcohol consumption.
"She's said in the past it's because of binge drinking rather than alcohol dependency."
Mr Yates said she accepted she was at risk of losing her home if she did not co-operate with the court.
He added: "Miss Benzerell is someone who in the past tried to fight against the system rather than work with it but she comes today acknowledging she has problems and wanting to work with the agencies which want to help her."
Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with 12 months supervision and an anger management and alcohol treatment requirement for six months. She was also ordered to pay £276 compensation for the criminal damage and a £60 victim surcharge.
Chairman of the bench Dilys Cornes told her: "If you work with the system, perhaps this time next year you will be out of it and on the right road and feeling better in yourself."
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