A teenager suffered facial fractures after he was allegedly assaulted in a taxi in Middlesbrough.

The 18-year-old was in a black and yellow Hackney taxi on Thornfield Road in Linthorpe , at about 3.30am on Saturday, when it is alleged the incident happened.

A spokesman for Cleveland police said the driver of the taxi stopped the vehicle and a verbal altercation took place before the victim was assaulted.

He suffered facial fractures and he was taken to James Cook University Hospital where he received treatment and was later released.

The driver is described as Asian, around 5ft 10ins–6ft tall, of average build and in his mid-30s.

It is believed that another passing taxi driver may have intervened in this incident and police would like to speak with this driver as he may be able to assist with inquiries.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to contact DC Neil Coverdale on the non-emergency 101 number, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org

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PORTSMOUTH

A TAXI passenger has told a jury that a driver sexually assaulted her before pestering her to perform a sex act on him.

Andy Cars driver Ioan Sofronici is accused of attacking the woman in the early hours after he arrived near an address in Hayling Island having picked her up in Portsmouth.



It is then alleged the 26-year-old, of Bramble Road, Southsea, drove away with the woman still in the car and down a dark lane.


She told police in a recorded interview she feared he could have done anything if she left the car.

Giving evidence via the video at Portsmouth Crown Court, the woman said she had asked how much the fare was when he kissed her.

She said: ‘He kissed me. He’s full on kissed me and grabbed me. Tried to stick his tongue down my throat.

‘I just froze. I didn’t know what to do and the next breath he said “let’s get in the back” I said “no, let’s not get in the back”. I don’t do things like that.’

She said the driver assaulted her after kissing her as she sat in the passenger seat of the pre-booked taxi.

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SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida family is taking action against a popular ride sharing service after a devastating crash. They believe their loved one would still be alive today if he hadn't hired an Uber driver.

Twenty-year-old Pablo Sanchez Jr. lost his life along an intersection in Southwest Miami-Dade and now his family is demanding answers from the service that was hired to bring him home safely.

Sanchez Jr. died in a fiery crash that happened just two days after Christmas. His father, Pablo Sanchez Sr. cried in remembrance of his only son. "He was like a role model to younger kids," he said. "He would help everybody."

No one could get to Sanchez Jr. in time. "The car exploded and Pablito lost his life right then, right there," said the victim's family attorney Andrew B. Yaffa.

Yaffa is now announcing a wrongful death lawsuit.

Around 4:45 a.m. on Dec. 27, Sanchez Jr. and his friends were taking an Uber ride. According to Miami-Dade Police, the SUV they were riding in attempted to make a left hand turn from Southwest 157th Avenue onto 144th Street in Southwest Miami-Dade. That's when the SUV was hit by an oncoming car.

A Miami-Dade police news release stated, "it appears speed was a factor," but the attorney claims that it was carelessness on the Uber driver's part also played a role. "I can't tell you whether he fell asleep or that he was looking at his cell phone or whether he was texting, but he certainly was not paying attention to what he should have been doing," Yaffa said.

The civil suit names the Uber driver and the owner of the vehicle, the other driver and Uber Technologies, Incorporated. "There needs to be policies, there needs to be procedures, there needs to be safeguards in place to ensure that our children are protected," Yaffa said.

The suit alleges negligence in hiring, supervising and training the Uber driver. "He made a mistake and it cost my kid his life," Sanchez Sr. said.

7News tried to get a comment from the 32-year-old Uber driver at his residence in Miami, but no one answered the door. 

Uber Technologies responded to 7News with a statement that declared, "We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident, and our thoughts are with all those involved and their families during this very difficult time."

http://www.wsvn.com/story/30949734/family-demands-answers-from-uber-after-collision-kills-their-son