JUST DESERTS
WORCESTER TAXI DRIVER ASSAULT LEAVES PASSENGER JAILED FOR NINE MONTHS
A Worcester man has been locked up after attacking a local taxi driver inside his cab in front of a child. Stuart Halliday, 44, appeared at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 20 August, facing charges including assault by beating against cabbie Azanuhr Rahman. The attack took place in Wychbold on 9 May 2025. Magistrates noted that while the assault was over quickly, it was
made worse because it happened within the confined space of a car with a child present. The court heard that Halliday was later caught driving a BMW in Worcester on 10 June while already disqualified and without insurance. Magistrates also pointed out that
these latest crimes were committed while he was serving a suspended sentence. Halliday was handed a nine-month prison sentence, split into five months for assaulting the taxi driver and four months for driving while disqualified. He was also ordered to pay £154 in compensation to Mr Rahman, alongside a driving ban lasting three years and 137 days.
CABBIE THOUGHT IT WAS HIS LAST DAY ON EARTH AFTER AIR RIFLE THREAT FOLLOWING YORK PICK-UP
A terrified taxi driver thought it was his “last day on earth” when an intoxicated customer pointed an air rifle at him following a fare dispute in the early hours’. Dominic Trynka-Watson, 40, had been dropped off at his home in Newton upon Derwent after taking a ride from York when the driver approached his door to collect the unpaid £26.80 fare.
Twenty seconds later, Trynka- Watson emerged from a side door carrying a long-barrelled air rifle and walked towards the vehicle. The driver sped away. Police later arrested Trynka-Watson and seized two air rifles, a crossbow, knives, and shot-gun cartridges. Hull Crown Court heard that the defendant had been heavily drinking and had only a vague
recollection of his behaviour. Trynka-Watson, who admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, was handed a fifteen-month suspended prison sentence, two hundred hours of unpaid work, and twenty days of rehabilitation. He was also ordered to pay £561 in compensation and £187 victim surcharge.
DRUNK FARE DODGER WHO PUT CARLISLE CABBIE IN HEADLOCK GIVEN SUSPENDED SENTENCE
A Carlisle cabbie who was put in a headlock by a drunk passenger refusing to pay a £28 fare fought back by biting his attacker. Sheldon O’Neil, 28, from Belah, initially lied to police by claiming the driver had assaulted him, but later admitted to making off without paying and assault by beating at the city’s crown court. The incident began on March 29,
44
2024, after O’Neil and two other men hired the cab. Prosecutor Tanya Elahi told the court that after the other passengers were dropped off, O’Neil “grabbed the cabbie from behind and placed him in a headlock, with his right arm across his [the driver’s] throat. In an attempt to free himself, he bit the defendant on the wrist.” O’Neil then got out, punched the
cab window and kicked the vehicle. The court heard that O’Neil has 28 previous offences on his record, including violence and dishonesty. The victim stated that the ordeal caused him such severe anxiety that he is now considering changing jobs. O’Neil was sentenced to
six
months in jail, suspended for one year, 25 rehabilitation activity days and 60 days of alcohol treatment.
SEPTEMBER 2026 PHTM
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