WOLVERHAMPTON

A drug-addled taxi driver who attacked a woman with a knife while high on cocaine was starting an 18-month jail sentence today.

Abdul Jabbar knew the woman and had asked her to give him a lift when his vehicle was dropped off for repair.

The pair left in convoy after meeting by agreement in Highfield Road, Netherton, but he parked alongside a nearby block of flats and climbed into her car with a bag, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The married 41-year-old admitted he was ‘coked up’ and had been taking drugs all night, revealed Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting.

The court heard how the defendant told the woman: ‘Sorry, I don’t know what I’m doing’ before producing an eight inch blade knife from the bag.

The terrified woman tried to get out but was grabbed by the hair by Jabbar on August 26 last year, the court heard.

“She was kicking and screaming and managed to wriggle away from him to open her door,” continued Mr Searle.

She got out and started to phone the police as he dashed round the car to put a hand over her mouth yelling: ‘Shut up, shut up or I will stab you.’

Her cries for help were heard by a member of the public whose shouts spooked the attacker into throwing the victim to the ground and fleeing in his taxi.

He was arrested soon afterwards.

The petrified victim was not physically injured but is now frightened whenever she leaves her home and has had to change her car as it reminds her of the attack.

Mr Curtis Myrie, defending, said Jabbar’s marriage was on the rocks and he had developed a serious cocaine problem, the court heard.

Jabbar from Corporation Road, Dudley, admitted assault and threatening with a blade in a way that caused risk of serious harm.

He was sent to prison by Judge James Burbidge QC, who said: “You pre planned to get a woman on her own in a car while ‘coked up’ and in possession of a knife.

"You had your own agenda but have not been entirely honest when claiming she had nothing to fear from you.”

https://goo.gl/NCC9QP