JUST DESSERTS...
DRUNK WHO ‘SPEAR TACKLED’ NEWTOWN TAXI DRIVER BREAKING HIS SHOULDER IS JAILED
A drunk who “spear tackled” a taxi driver while on bail for breaking another man’s jaw has been jailed. The Daily Post reports that Dray Michael James Rogers was told that the two separate incidents were so serious that only immediate custody could be justi- fied. The 19-year-old from Welshpool appeared at Mold Crown Court on 3 September after admitting two counts of grievous bodily harm. Prosecutors said the first incident happened in September 2019 at a pub in Newtown, where Rogers punched a stranger, Gareth Owen so hard on the dance floor that he had to “push his teeth back into his gums.” The 26-year-old victim needed surgery after suffering two fractures and had to have three metal plates inserted and 20 stitches. It meant he had to eat liquidised food through a straw for six weeks after the inci- dent. In a victim impact statement Mr Owen describes having lost sensation in his lower lip, his jaw is now misaligned and the injury has caused his face to permanently change shape. Rogers was arrested for the offence and was released under investigation.
But in March 2020 while still on bail, he attacked taxi driver, Shain Ahmed after he picked him and some friends up from the same pub. Rogers was in the front passenger seat when he began arguing with a female pas- senger in the back who slapped him across the face. The driver stopped the car and asked them to get out after which, Rogers kicked the door. They got out and at that point, Mr Ahmed was about to drive off when he noticed the door was still open. As he got out to close it, Rogers “lifted him into the air before throwing him head first, causing him to land on his shoulder” frac- turing it. Mr Ahmed fought him off and a passing member of the public called the police and as officers chased him, he fell into the river and had to be helped out. A victim impact statement from Mr Ahmed described how he can no longer use his shoulder or drive his taxi any more and “feels scared to go outside.” Judge Niclas Parry said they were “two separate incidents of very serious violence” both committed while under the influence of alcohol.
Referring to the second incident, the judge said: “Quite inexplicably, when you were effectively on police bail you carried out another serious offence of wounding, this time on a public servant. “Once again you’d been to the same public house and having called on a public ser- vant to drive you home, you became involved in a dispute. “You held the driver with one hand, you lift- ed him and you dumped him. “You dropped him. very hard with such force you broke his shoulder, you then went on to continue to assault him and he was able to resist you. “As a result he was unable to use his right hand and shoulder and was unable to work or earn an income to support his wife and three children. “It was an attack upon a person providing a service to the public these matters are so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified.” Rogers was sentenced to a total of 20 months in prison. He was also subjected to a five-year restraining order banning him from approaching Mr Ahmed and was ordered to pay him £1,000 compensation.
WOMAN ATTACKED SOUTH SHIELDS SHOP WORKER AND ASSAULTED TAXI DRIVER OVER CHANGE
A woman assaulted a taxi driver and dam- aged his car after he handed her change to a friend and fellow passenger, a court heard. The Shields Gazette reports that intoxi- cated Katie Brannen, 27, from Jarrow, tried to climb back in through an open window in the taxi. She kicked the middle of the passenger side of the car and caused a dent. The driver got out and she kicked him on the right forearm and used her right leg to kick him twice in the chest. She then slapped him and went to kick him on the right side of his stomach but he blocked her and she ran off. Two months later she stole two bottles of cider from a McColls store in South Shields, and attacked staff members. Brannen, who was again drunk lunged at another employee outside the store with a
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bottle and spat in his face and on his chest and tried to kick him – but failed when he grabbed her leg. Brannen was arrested both times after flee- ing. Brannen pleaded guilty to shop theft and assaulting the taxi driver, causing criminal damage to his taxi and failing to surrender to custody. She denied assault charges against the shop workers and causing harassment, alarm or distress, but was convicted at trial in her absence. Magistrates gave her an 18-month commu- nity order with 140 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service. She must pay the taxi driver £300 for dam- age to his VW Passat, and give him £50 compensation. There were no court costs.
OCTOBER 2020
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