‘Drunken yob’ is jailed for racist attack on cabbie
25/06/2010
A ‘drunken yob’ who attacked and racially abused a Burton cabbie after getting smashed at a Christmas party has been jailed for six months.
Demolition worker Michael Baker punched taxi driver Mohammed Suleman in the face, breaking his nose, called him a racially abusive name and broke a window in his cab, Stafford Crown Court heard.
Paul Farrow, prosecuting, said Baker had been drinking in an address in Mosley Street before another partygoer had put him in a cab and paid the driver to take him home to Stapenhill.
On the way, however, Baker told the driver to stop in Moor Street, before getting out and kicking the door of the cab, causing £443 worth of damage.
The defendant then forced Mr Suleman’s taxi to stop by standing in the road waving his arms.
The cabbie told him he could not take him to Stapenhill because his was a private hire taxi and he was on his way to collect a customer.
Baker then launched his racist attack on the victim.
Nicholas Smith, defending, described his client’s behaviour had been ‘quite appalling’ and said taxi drivers faced being confronted with ‘drunken yobs such as this young man’.
However, he said Baker was ‘clearly ashamed of what he’s done.’ Baker, 22, of Ivy Lodge Close, Stapenhill, admitted racially aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm, racially aggravated criminal damage, criminal damage and possessing a small amount of cannabis found in his rucksack after his arrest.
Judge Mark Eades told him: “Christmas is meant to engender the spirit of goodwill.
“If you go out to a Christmas party, drink yourself into oblivion and behave in an appalling fashion, you can expect no sympathy from the court.
“I don’t suppose for a moment you are a racist, but if you resort to racist abuse you jeopardise good relationships between the different ethnic groups in this country.
“Taxi drivers supply the public with a valuable service. They need to know they can do it without the fear of being attacked by drunks like you.” The court heard Baker had recently lost his job as a demolition worker.
Source; burtonmail.co.uk
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