JUST DESERTS FINE FOR DRUNK MAN WHO


RACIALLY ABUSED WORCESTER TAXI DRIVER


A man who had drunk “a lot” got into a taxi and racially abused the driver after not paying the fare. Andrew Pinches admitted racially aggravated common assault when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on 10 November. Mark Hambling, prosecuting, said the 44-year-old had got into a taxi at 6.30pm on June 21 in Worcester asking for a lift to Fernhill Heath. The prosecutor said it was a simple


offence which had taken place with Pinches using a racist slur towards the driver and asked for magistrates to give Pinches a more severe sentence, to reflect the racial element of the offence. Paul Stanley,


defending, said


Pinches had been drinking “a lot” that day. He explained that Pinches had asked the driver to stop so he could withdraw money from a cashpoint - but had not


been able to withdraw any. After returning to the driver and explaining to him he couldn’t pay him the fare, Pinches then made the racist comment and ran off. “He can’t remember saying it,” Mr Stanley said. “He accepts what the injured party has said. He regrets what he did.” Magistrates fined Pinches £138, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £55 and costs of £185.


EIGHT YEARS’ JAIL FOR DRUNK PASSENGER WHO KNOCKED OUT CARDIFF CABBIE RUINING HIS LIFE


A taxi driver who was knocked out by a drunken passenger and suffered serious head injuries says the attack has destroyed his life. Lewis Liddell assaulted the cabbie after drinking heavily and taking cocaine. After an argument outside the cab Liddell delivered a powerful punch which sent his victim crashing to the floor. The cabbie has been left unable to work and says he can’t remember his own granddaughter. Joshua Scouller, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court the assault took place the week before Christmas last year after Liddell had been “drinking heavily” in bars in Cardiff city centre. After a number of cabbies refused his fare due to his level of intoxication the defendant secured a taxi. The court heard it is not known what happened in the vehicle as neither driver nor passenger has any memory of the journey but the taxi stopped near Roath police station and the occupants were


PHTM DECEMBER 2022


seen arguing. Both men got out of the cab and Liddell grabbed the cabbie before throwing him to the floor. A passer-by saw what was going on and shouted at Liddell which led to the defendant walking away. However, the court heard the 34- year-old then turned around and delivered a single powerful punch to


his victim’s head - the


eyewitness said the cabbie was likely unconscious before he hit the pavement. In a victim impact statement the taxi driver said he had been a cabbie for 20 years and loved the job but had been left unable to work, feeling scared to leave the house, and now cannot remember his granddaughter. He said his wife had to give up her job to look after him, and the attack had destroyed his life. In a statement from the cabbie’s


son he said his dad had been “a pillar of the community, the head of the household, and a loving grandfather” but now feels like he is a “burden” and “feels alive but not living; here but not present”. Lewis Liddell, from Cardiff, had previously been convicted at trial of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has previous convictions for criminal damage and battery, as well as cautions for taking a vehicle without consent, theft, and possession of a Class B drug. James Wing, for Liddell, said the defendant had been drunk, had taken cocaine for the first time and has no memory of the incident so did not give evidence at trial. The barrister added that at the time his client was “undergoing a crisis of mental health”.


Judge Shomon Khan sentenced Liddell to eight years in prison and will serve two-thirds in custody before being released on licence.


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