DUDLEY (BIRMINGHAM)

A terrifying video shows the moment a gang of thugs threw a brick through a taxi window fracturing the skull of a pensioner passenger inside.

The footage shows the elderly couple were on their way home along Bellevue Road, Birmingham, when the female traveller, in her 70s, was struck on the head by the missile that smashed through the window.

Dudley Private Hire & Taxi Association released the clip on their Facebook page to raise awareness of the difficulties drivers face.

When the brick caught the woman she cried out in despair and her husband attempted to cover the wound as blood poured down her face.

The driver said 'hang on folks' immediately redirecting to drive to the hospital.

A reported seven cars were damaged on the same night when yobs assaulted multiple vehicles with stones on May 25. 

West Midlands Police could not comment on the footage, but the Dudley taxi company confirmed the woman as the pensioner treated in hospital for a fractured skull after the multiple stone throwing attacks.

Shaz Saleem, Chairman of Dudley Private Hire & Taxi Association, told MailOnline the attack was 'disgusting'.

'Incidents like the video are not new, we experience such incidents on a regular basis with taxis being attacked with eggs, stones and on this occasion a brick.

'We released the video to make people aware of the difficulties the drivers face and we wanted the attackers to see the damage and injuries they cause.

'For them it's a joke but as you can see this is no laughing matter.'

Mr Saleem added that many people have been injured in the past, but they have had positive support by West Midlands Police via Dudley Taxi Watch, a safety advisory group.

He also said the driver of the taxi used to work for DPHTA but is now based in Birmingham. 

'Drivers are professionally trained and the driver did an excellent job of keeping calm and helping the passenger,' he said.

Speaking about the stone throwing attacks on 25 May, Inspector Steven Rice, from Harborne police station, said: 'This completely reckless behaviour has resulted in someone being injured.

'It is only by chance that we are not dealing with something more serious, someone could have been killed.

'We believe that they were targeting black cabs and taxi drivers and we want to reassure the taxi driving community that we are taking action to prevent a re-occurrence.

'We have increased police patrols to stop this happening again and we are determined to catch those responsible.

'This woman was seriously injured and I would appeal to anyone who knows who is responsible to call me or one of my team with names.

'I would also appeal to those responsible to consider their actions and do the right thing and come forward so we can speak to you. It is only a matter of time before we come knocking at your door.'

Underneath the Facebook video commenters shared their outrage at the actions of the thugs.

Irene Catherine Barlow wrote: 'Disgusting hope the idiots are caught and given a good kicking.'

While Louis Dudgon added: 'That was horrible to watch! My respects go to the taxi driver and the old fella protecting his wife! I don't understand what people get out of doing s*** like this!'

Comment: You really need to click the link and see the video.

http://goo.gl/tCcXwd