York taxi driver subjected to terrifying attack by knifeman and thug

A TAXI driver was threatened with a knife and punched in what he described as the worst experience of his 18-year career.

Benjamin Watson and Harry Radcliffe attacked cabbie Ian Hunter after he came to collect two women the pair had been arguing with.

Katy Rafter, prosecuting, told York Crown Court yesterday that Watson, 21, and Radcliffe, 18, had been drinking at a house in Etty Avenue, Tang Hall, on March 6 last year.

The women, who had also been at the house, called a taxi to go for a night out and asked Watson and Radcliffe to leave.

But they refused and an argument was still continuing when the taxi arrived at 1am.

Ms Rafter said: "Benjamin Watson threw a brick or a stone at the taxi and the taxi driver stopped to investigate.

"Both defendants shouted at him and started dancing around him as though they were boxers.

"All of a sudden, Benjamin Watson ran towards Mr Hunter, the taxi driver, and shouted 'do you want some?'

"He was carrying a knife that was described as having a four to five inch blade."

Watson moved the knife towards Mr Hunter and again shouted 'do you want some?'.

He then threw the knife down and it was recovered by police from the road side.

Ms Rafter added: "Harry Radcliffe then ran up at this stage and threw punches towards Mr Hunter, some of which connected around Mr Hunter's head area.

"Mr Hunter was able to get inside his taxi, but was kicked in the leg by one of the defendants and had the taxi door slammed on him.

"He said that in his 18 years of being a taxi driver he has never had an experience as bad as this one.

"The incident left him shaken and with a sore jaw where Mr Watson punched him."

Watson and Radcliffe had denied four counts relating to the attack, with their trial listed for February 23.

But on the day it was due to start they both admitted one charge of affray, which the prosecution accepted.

The court heard that Watson had 30 previous conviction for 53 offences, including shoplifting and common assault.

Radcliffe had one previous conviction for criminal damage.

Defending Watson, Julian Tanikal, said he has had behavioural problems since being expelled from school at 14.

At the time, he was living with his mother in "a very unstable situation", but he was now living with his grandfather and working as a labourer.

"That stability has changed this young man," said Mr Tanikal.

"He realises that if he doesn't seize an opportunity soon, then he may not get another one."

Defending Radcliffe, Victoria Smith-Swain, said the attack took place on the night of his 17th birthday.

"He accepts it was a silly decision to consume such a large amount of alcohol that evening," she said.

"He does have some aggressive tendencies which are exacerbated by the use of alcohol."

She added: "Mr Watson was the main instigator and aggressor during this incident."

The Probation Service said Radcliffe, who is working as a labourer on the former Terry's chocolate factory site, was progressing "exceptionally well".

Ms Smith-Swain added: "He is extremely remorseful and keen to give back for his behaviour."

Jailing Watson for 14 months, Recorder Alistair Macdonald QC said: "It must have been utterly terrifying for Mr Hunter.

"It goes way beyond the custody threshold."

Sentencing Radcliffe, Mr Macdonald said: "You must understand how serious this is."

Radcliffe received a 12-month youth rehabilitation order and must observe a 10pm to 6am curfew for three months.

He was ordered to pay £200 compensation.

Mr Macdonald added: "This is an opportunity for you - you'd better take it."


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 UBER INDIA

  The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought response of ANI Technologies, which runs app-based cab service under the name of Ola, on its competitor Uber's plea seeking Rs 49.61 crore as damages from Ola for allegedly interfering in its business by making fake accounts to book rides and then cancelling them.

Ola denied the allegations made by Uber and told the court it has no intention of indulging in any of the actions attributed to it by its competitor.

In view of the submission made by Ola, Justice Vipin Sanghi directed Ola to abide by its statement and listed the matter for further hearing on September 14.

"Defendants (Ola and its subsidiary Serendipity Cabs) emphatically deny the allegations. Counsel for defendants states they have not done anything to interfere with plaintiff's (Uber) business as alleged, or its system by making false accounts, bookings or cancellations... nor has any intention of doing so.

"Defendants, their agents and employees shall abide by this statement...,"the court said, and issued notice to Ola and Serendipity asking them to file their written statement, reply and submit documents within four weeks.

Uber was asked to file its rejoinder to Ola's reply in another four weeks and the matter was listed for hearing on September 14.

Uber in its plea alleged that Ola's employees have created over 93,000 fake accounts across India on Uber's platform and were using them to make false bookings which were later cancelled and thus, causing loss to Uber which has to pay the cancellation charges.

It has claimed to have paid over Rs 5 lakh as cancellation charges and alleged that by making false bookings, Ola was "squatting" on cabs associated with Uber.

Ola, on the other hand, contended in the court that Uber's plea is an "offshoot" of the contempt petition filed against it by Ola for allegedly not complying with court directions to phase out diesel cabs.

It also argued that Uber's plea was based on assumptions that Ola's employees were creating the false accounts to make bookings and then cancel them.

It also said Uber was not paying any cancellation charges as the customer is charged if he/she does not cancel booking within five minutes of making it.

Uber in its plea claimed that over four lakh bookings have been made and cancelled by Ola employees across the country, with more than 50,000 such alleged incidents in Delhi, from August last year till March which has led to more than 23,000 drivers associated with it not working for it anymore.

It alleged this amounts to "stifling the competition in an irregular manner".

Uber alleged Ola was exploiting a "loophole" in its system by using data only numbers, to which calls cannot be made, to create multiple false accounts and has sought damages of Rs 49.61 crore for loss of -- service fee due to cancellations, investment made on drivers who have left, trip fare and reputation.

To this the court said Uber should fix the loophole.

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 BRUSSELS. 

Police in Brussels are raiding a number of properties tonight following a tip-off from a taxi driver 'who drove the suspected bombers to the airport'.

Three blasts left at least 31 people dead and 198 injured at the capital’s airport and a carriage at Maelbeek subway station this morning.

Police in Belgium have launched a massive manhunt to find at one suspect captured on airport CCTV moments before the blasts who police believe is still at large.

Belgian authorites fear two or more men could be on the run - with armed raids taking place at addresses across the city in the wake of the bombing as Islamic State claimed responsibility.

Live updates as ISIS bombers caught on CCTV seconds before blasts

Belgian newspaper HLN reports a taxi driver came forward to police saying he believes he unwittingly drove the bombers to the airport.

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