Detectives in Westminster are appealing for witnesses and information after a woman was repeatedly hit with a bottle in the back of a taxi in central London.

The victim, a woman aged in her 20s, had been out with family when she hailed a London Black Taxi outside the Palace Theatre in Shaftsbury Avenue at about 02:35hrs on Sunday, 18 March.

The victim and her family got into the taxi when two unknown men got in and asked if they could be dropped around the corner. The taxi driver declined as there were too many passengers and he would lose his licence.

One of the men got out, but the other refused and got into an argument with the victim. The suspect then started to push one of victim’s relatives. The victim pulled the suspect off her relative. The suspect then pulled out a small glass bottle of vodka and repeatedly hit the victim over the head with it until he was dragged off.

The victim collapsed onto the floor of the taxi and the suspect fled the scene.

The taxi driver took the victim to a north London hospital. She required stitches before being discharged later that day.

The suspect is described as a white man, aged in his late 20s to early 30s, with short light brown curly hair. He was wearing a light blue checkered shirt and jeans; he spoke with an Irish accent.
Detectives from Westminster’s Serious Crime Unit are investigating and are keen to speak to the taxi driver.

He is described as an Asian man, aged about 40 to 50 years old, with short dark hair. He was wearing a light blue shirt.

Any witnesses or with anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 7321 8296 or 101 or Tweet @MetCC.

Information can also be reported to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org

http://news.met.police.uk/news/appeal-for-taxi-driver-to-contact-police-301234
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Taxi passenger who produced knife over £25 fare for journey to East Kilbride jailed

Douglas Ross, 43, was locked-up for 18-months after the taxi driver told the court he feared he would suffer a heart attack during the ordeal.

A taxi passenger who produced a knife after complaining about the £25 fare between Strathaven and East Kilbride has been jailed for 18 months.

Qamar Fariyad said Douglas Ross held the blade at his neck and he felt so stressed he was sure he was going to suffer a heart attack.
Ross (43) denied assaulting and robbing the 30-year-old driver.

On the second day of the trial the charge was dropped after he admitted threatening or abusive behaviour which included shouting and swearing repeatedly at the cabbie and producing the blade.
Mr Fariyad, of Motherwell, told the jury he picked up Ross from an address in Kirk Street, Strathaven, late one night last September.

He was going to the Lindsay House homeless unit in East Kilbride to see if he could find a bed there.
Mr Fariyad told Callum Forsyth, prosecuting: “He asked how much I would charge and I said £25.

“He told me he would pay before we left. We were just chatting and then when we left Strathaven and were on a dark road he asked if he could use my phone. I gave him the phone and immediately he started swearing and screaming at me, asking why I was charging £25.

“Then he took a knife and held it very close to my neck. I was very frightened. I said I was a poor man working day and night for my family and I would give him back his money.

“He told me to forget about it, but he kept the knife at my neck. He was threatening me and banging on the dashboard. I felt I was going to have a heart attack.”
The cabbie said he eventually reached East Kilbride town centre and managed to get him out of his taxi. He said Ross walked towards Lindsay House in Kittoch Street.

Ross, a prisoner at HMP Addiewell, also admitted illegal possession of a knife at the homeless unit, shouting abuse, demanding accommodation there, producing the knife and threatening to harm himself.

Defence agent Charles Ferguson described his client as a Jekyll and Hyde character. The solicitor explained: “He lives with his partner and is usually in a full-time job. His life is settled and he plays golf in his spare time.

“However, he has mental health difficulties which result in him using alcohol and drugs, and going off the rails. Anger management is another issue and he has had counselling for this.”
Sheriff Ray Small accepted Ross had no intention of robbing the taxi driver and the only person he planned to hurt with the knife was himself.
But the sheriff added: “It is still an offence to have a knife in public and you were on a community payback order for having a knife when this happened.

“Custody is the only appropriate sentence and to protect the public from serious harm when you get out there will also be a nine-month supervised release order.

“You must attend for alcohol or drug counselling as directed and if you breach the order you will be returned to prison.”
The 18-month sentence was backdated to September 19 at the sentencing at Hamilton Sheriff Court

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/taxi-passenger-who-produced-knife-12295934