UNJUST DESERTS
BURNLEY MAN GIVEN SUSPENDED SENTENCE AFTER BRUTAL ASSAULT ON PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER
A 27-year-old man from Burnley has admitted to an unprovoked attack on a private hire driver who told him about booking procedures. Reece Rainey appeared at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to assault- ing Shabaz Akhtar, breaking multiple teeth. The court heard that the incident occurred outside a booking office where Rainey approached Mr Akhtar’s vehicle seeking a ride. Prosecutor Courtney Thompson stated: “He was told he had to go into the office and book a taxi. He initially walked away but then returned and became aggressive
to such an extent two other drivers locked themselves in their cars.” According to Thompson, Rainey then turned his aggression towards Mr. Akhtar, who was standing outside his cab. “He was punched about 12 times and had no memory of what happened after the last punch until he realised one of his colleagues was running him to hospital,” she recounted. The severity of the assault was underscored by the injuries sustained by Mr. Akhtar, who suffered “five or six broken teeth” with some requiring extraction. Rainey’s defence solicitor, Nick Cassidy, told the court that Rainey
had been drinking excessively and now “hardly drinks at all.” He conveyed Rainey’s remorse, stating his client “accepted it had been a disgusting incident and wished to apologise.” Despite the violent nature of the assault,
District Judge James
Clarke opted for a suspended sentence. Rainey received a 24- week prison sentence, suspended for 24 weeks, and was ordered to complete a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement. He was also instructed to pay £3,000 in compensation to Mr. Akhtar, along with £85 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
NEWPORT MAN AVOIDS JAIL AFTER BRUTAL WINE BOTTLE ATTACK ON TAXI DRIVER
A Newport man, Anthony Griffiths, 49, narrowly avoided jail after a “very cruel and cowardly” alcohol- fuelled assault on a taxi driver, during which he broke the driver’s nose with a wine bottle. The incident, which occurred in Abergavenny on 27 February, 2021, also saw Griffiths “charge like a bull” at a police officer attempting to arrest him, punching him in the head. Cardiff Crown Court heard that Griffiths became aggressive shortly after being picked up in Llanellen, shouting and swearing at cabbie Erol Aglamaz, and demanding to be let out of the car while on a dual carriageway. Prosecutor Ross McQuillan- Johnson stated that Griffiths then slapped a female passenger who
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had begun crying, before striking Mr Aglamaz in the face with a wine bottle and damaging the taxi’s interior. The driver pulled over and the police were called. “Although the officer initially notes that the defendant was compliant with his orders, he ignored the command to get on the ground and charged at the officer,” McQuillan- Johnson said, describ-ing the charge as “almost being animalistic, with his eyes fixed on him.” The officer was knocked to the ground and punched, and Griffiths was abusive towards arresting officers, causing significant damage to a police van cage. Mr Aglamaz suffered two black eyes and a broken nose requiring corrective surgery. Griffiths admitted assault occas-
ioning ABH, assault by beating of an emergency worker, and two counts of criminal damage. Recorder Dyfed Llion Thomas condemned the delay in the case. He told the defendant: “You carried out a very cruel and cowardly attack on Mr Aglamaz who was working as a taxi driver. The court takes very seriously assaults upon people who serve the public. “They should be safe from drunken yobbish behaviour and indeed violent behaviour like you dis-played that night. If you can’t handle your drink, stay away from it.” Griffiths received a 12-month suspended sentence, was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, and was instructed to pay £1,500 in compensation and a £156 victim surcharge.
MAY 2025 PHTM
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