'Crossed wires' led Barnoldswick man to attack taxi driver
06 July 2010
A labourer who attacked a cabbie, got the wrong end of the stick after his girlfriend was a passenger, a court was told.
Lee MacDonald (24) had had between 10 and 15 pints and thought the victim had upset his partner. He punched Abdul Sitar and threw him on the ground, leaving him with a cut arm, lip, sore shoulder and bump on his head.
Pennine magistrates heard how MacDonald was arrested after a police officer driving past saw the last part of the early hours beating.
The defendant, of Colin Street, Barnoldswick, admitted assault by beating. He was bailed until July 27th, for a pre-sentence report.
Mr Andrew Robinson (prosecuting) told the court the defendant went up to the victim and asked if his girlfriend's shoes were in his car. Mr Sitar said they were and MacDonald then set about him. When the defendant was questioned, he claimed his girlfriend had complained about the behaviour of the taxi driver and that was why he had assaulted him.
Mr David Lawson (for MacDonald) said he accepted he had had too much to drink. He got his wires crossed and thought the victim had upset his girlfriend. The solicitor added: "He apologised immediately in interview and admitted what he did was totally unacceptable and wrong."
Source; pendletoday.co.uk