Rotherham taxi driver battered in fare row

A DRUNKEN plasterer who attacked a taxi driver after he felt he was being overcharged has been jailed for eight months.

Drinker Richard Winson (22), was picked up from a pub at 4am and asked to be dropped off on Rotherham’s Moorgate then changed the address to Green Lane in Broom, a court heard.

As he was getting out of Abdullah Wahid’s taxi, he reached back and grabbed the driver by the throat then punched him three times to the left eye, head and neck, breaking the victim’'s glasses.

When Winson asked for money Mr Wahid said he would give him anything but the driver managed to escape and ran off up the road with the defendant in pursuit shouting threats towards him, Sheffield Crown Court was told on Monday.

Winson was linked forensically to the attack and when arrested he told police the journey should have been less than £10 and he admitted punching the driver in a dispute over the fare.

Mr Wahid was left with bruising to the eye and head.

Winson, of Garden Close, Broom, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and making off without payment in July last year.

Mr Patrick Duffy, defending, said that Winson, who has no previous convictions, had drunk far too much that evening and did a “foolish, silly, stupid thing.”

Winson was jailed for eight months, with no separate penalty for making off without payment.

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