IS THIS JUSTICE? THREE YEARS’ JAIL
FOR WOMAN WHO BLINDED BIRMINGHAM CABBIE
A thug who left a Birmingham private hire driver permanently blind after jamming her high heel into his face has been locked up for her ‘frenzied’ attack. Georgia Nicholson ruptured Afaq Iftikhar’s eyeball when she repeatedly hit him with her shoe after a drunken night out. Members of the public were forced to intervene to bring her brutal assault to an end. The 23-year-old, from Coleshill, previously walked free from court and was handed a suspended sentence. But the Court of Appeal has now said she should have been jailed after ruling her punishment was too lenient. The Solicitor General, Michael Tomlinson KC MP, said: “The victim has suffered life-altering injuries and lost his livelihood following the offender’s
frenzied and un-
provoked attack against someone who was just doing his job. “The court has rightfully recognised the offender’s brutality in this case and by upgrading the original suspended sentence to jail time should serve as a warning to others that violence like this will not be tolerated.” Nicholson and her friends were being driven home by the victim, aged 34 at the time, after a night out on December 15, 2018. The group had been drinking heavily, the Attorney General’s Office said. The victim stopped the car as a passenger felt sick but he was then subjected to racial abuse before being violently attacked. Nicholson, who was 18 at the time, repeatedly tried to hit the victim
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with her high heels before rupturing his eyeball. The cabbie’s punctured eyeball was so badly damaged doctors could not save it despite a four- hour operation and he was left permanently blind in his right eye. The defendant was handed a two- year sentence, suspended for two years, for causing grievous bodily harm with intent. She was also made subject to a ten-day rehabilitation activity requirement on May 30. Her case was then referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Under the scheme, anyone can ask for a Crown Court sentence
to be
reviewed if they think it is too lenient.
The suspended sentence was quashed and her sentence increased to three years’ imprisonment on August 4. NPHTA comment: We have said it countless times and will never stop until something is improved! The role of a taxi or private hire
driver is extremely vulnerable and dangerous, even the calmest looking people can turn at a moment’s notice, and without warning; even your regulars can be having a bad day and take it out on you. Police support is almost non- existent, the CPS action against such attacks is shocking to say the least, and the decisions made in most instances by courts, for the minority of cases that actually end up there, is appalling as we can see from the original judgement / decision made here: “The 23-year-old, from Coleshill, previously walked free from court and was handed a suspended sentence.” The perpetrator originally walked away scot-free after her attack, a slap on the wrist that thankfully was recognised and challenged, but still only three years? This poor man is blinded for life, rendered disabled and unable to work for the rest of his days as a direct result of her horrible nature. In our opinion, it should be further appealed and increased to minimum life, let’s really get the message out there! This man was not bruised or shaken up, he was maimed for life! Protective measures are a must in our industry, protective screens, CCTV, hazard detection, the right to refuse, and of course more official support when it is needed from police, courts, CPS, councils, Judges, and Government.
PROTECT YOURSELF – money can be replaced, your health, your life and your sanity cannot!
SEPTEMBER 2023 PHTM
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