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Sikh taxi driver's attacker
jailed
WSN Bureau
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Jailing him for a year, Judge Bray said the Sikh was assaulted
in a humiliating manner. "There has to be a prison sentence." |
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LONDON: William
Carr, 36, was aggressive and argumentative as the taxi he was being
driven home in pulled into Watford Gap services on the M1 on
November 11 last year.
Rebecca Wade,
prosecuting, said: "They got out and the defendant started being
aggressive towards the taxi driver, being abusive and swearing."
He grabbed hold
of Ajit Singh Dhillon's car keys, £120 in cash and a mobile phone,
before ripping off his turban and then trying to headbutt him
several times.
The taxi driver
managed to keep out of his way and called the police as Carr turned
his attention to a passing motorist, who had stopped at the motorway
service station.
Northampton
Crown Court heard last week how Carr approached motorist Vimal
Palmer and launched an unprovoked attack, while trying to steal his
car keys.
After being
arrested, Carr told officers he was so drunk he had no recollection
of the incident.
Judge Richard
Bray said: "He was drunk and assaulted a taxi driver; a nasty
assault of an Asian taxi driver and his turban was taken off his
head and thrown away.
"It's a grave
insult and an aggravating feature."
Carr, of
Fallowfields, in Crick, pleaded guilty to affray, theft of cash and
a mobile phone and the attempted robbery of Vimal Palmer's car keys.
Jailing him for
a year, Judge Bray said: "The taxi driver was assaulted in a
humiliating manner and must have been very upset by your behaviour.
"There has to be
a prison sentence.
"Attacks on taxi
drivers at night have become all too prevalent," he added.
Claire Howell,
defending, said Carr had been shocked by his behaviour after
watching the CCTV footage from Watford Gap and wanted to compensate
Mr Singh Dhillon.
She said: "This
defendant was very, very drunk and was appalled by what he was said
to have done. He is deeply ashamed of his behaviour that night."
8 October 2008
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