ALTRINGHAM

Thug Russell Barnard, 28, attacked taxi driver Nazar Abbas with a knuckleduster after the terrified victim rang 999 - and was advised to get his assailant's name and address

A road rage thug threatened a taxi driver with a knuckleduster after the terrified victim rang 999 - and was advised to get his assailant's name and address.

Russell Barnard, 28, had already threatened Nazar Abbas and refused to give out his personal details on request after the pair were involved in a minor crash in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

But when Mr Abbas called police to say Barnard was being aggressive towards him, an officer suggested the cabbie go back to Barnard and ask again for his name.

As Mr Abbas did so, Barnard angrily grabbed the knuckleduster from his Renault car and warned the victim: 'F*ck off, I'm not going to give my details - I'm going to smash your face in instead'.

The victim was forced to lock himself in his private hire cab whilst Barnard stood outside.

Police arrived to find Barnard attempting to drive away and discovered an axe in the footwell of his car.

In a statement Mr Abbas said: 'I felt very vulnerable and I now refuse to operate as a taxi driver in that area.' A report revealed Barnard, from Hale, had 'multiple personality disorder' and his outburst occurred when he was 'under the influence of one of the unpleasant personalities.'

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, he admitted using threatening behaviour and possessing an offensive weapon.

The pair were involved in the collision near a Sainsbury's store on October 19 last year.

Prosecutor Miss Lisa Boocock said: 'Mr Abbas tried to exchange details with the defendant, who instead refused to do so and drove off to a nearby car park.

'Mr Abbas followed him into that car park and the two of them got out of the vehicles.

'But the defendant was very aggressive with Mr Abbas, who was asking him for details for insurance purposes.

'He told Mr Abbas to 'f*ck off and go away.'

Mr Abbas said the defendant was staring straight at him which frightened him and gave him cause to be concerned. He was frightened he was going to be attacked so he phoned the police. But surprisingly the police told him to try and get the details again.

Barnard had already threatened Nazar Abbas and refused to give out his personal details on request after the pair were involved in a minor crash in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. When Mr Abbas called police to say Barnard was being aggressive towards him, an officer suggested the cabbie go back to his attacker and ask again for his name

'He did do and was met with some aggressive response. The defendant went to his car, recovered a knuckle duster and came back to Mr Abbas, wearing the knuckle duster on his right hand.

'Mr Abbas was frightened he was going to be attacked due to the defendant shouting: 'f*ck off, I'm not going to give my details, I'm going to smash your face in'.

'Mr Abbas got back into his car and locked the doors to stop him from getting in. The defendant didn't attempt to get in. The defendant got back into his car when the police arrived.

'The defendant was placed into the back of a police car. He was spoken to by the police and he refused to give the officer his details.

'He was discovered by way of checking the keeper details of the car. Police recovered the knuckle duster and an axe on the footwell of the car.

'This is road rage without the assault.'

Barnard was given a 12 months community order and was ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work.

In mitigation, defence lawyer Hunter Gray said: 'There is a diagnosis of a mental disorder which creates risk. On this particular occasion he was emotionally very low. There is genuine remorse.'

Sentencing Judge Mark Savill told Barnard: 'It is clear you were in a heightened emotional state and this caused this man fear.

'You are a well built man and it would have been very frightening for anybody with you coming towards them bearing a knuckle duster.

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As Mr Abbas did so, Barnard angrily grabbed the knuckleduster from his Renault car and warned the victim: 'F*ck off, I'm not going to give my details - I'm going to smash your face in instead', Manchester Crown Court heard. Barnard was given a 12 months community order and was ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work

'You were interviewed and said you had no recollection and gave a fanciful explanation of how you found these knuckle dusters.

'But from a psychiatric report it is accepted that you suffer from a psychiatric illness and have been treated for that and over the years have managed it very well and you are a man of good character.

'You were in a somewhat worse personal situation last year you had lost your job, weren't sleeping and were looking at life in a rather poorer light.

'By and large you managed to keep your condition from causing difficulties in your life and the recommendation is that you receive treatment for it.. I accept you are a man who has a mental health disorder.

'This is a wholly exceptional case please continue to manage your life as you have until now if you don't you and I will meet again.'

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Suffolk County Council has said that companies taking children to school should sub-contract their work “only in emergency situations”.

But Quick Cab Services Ltd. in Ipswich uses self-employed drivers to carry out its work, with some parents concerned they have less knowledge about who is responsible for their children's transport.

A council spokesman reassured parents that every transport operator it works with is licensed – and that those operators only use licensed drivers.

But Julian Coates, whose four-year-old son William is among the youngest children at Hillside Special School in Sudbury, said: “I am giving my son to people I don't know. I am giving them my pride and joy – I worship the ground he walks on.

“If anything happens, who do I blame? If you are going to take responsibility, you should drive that taxi. So when I have a problem I know who I am talking to.”

Mr Coates said he would prefer William to be looked after by a company with a fleet of cabs – as he feels there would be more clear and consistent contact between parent and driver.

“I am going by somebody else telling me something,” he said.

“I don't know what's going on. It needs a common sense approach to this.”

Mr Coates said he was already frustrated with his son's transport situation, as William's daily three-hour round trip frequently leaves him exhausted.

A council spokesman said: “Whilst we do not comment on individual cases, we can reassure parents that every transport operator we work with is licenced and uses licenced drivers who are also registered with Suffolk County Council.”

Quick Cab Services Ltd. has been contacted for comment.

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 BRISTOL

A taxi went up in flames while travelling towards Pill  - and fire from the vehicle shot across the road towards an electricity pole.

Dramatic footage of the vehicle fire on Abbots Leigh Road was captured by concerned residents.

Reports from the scene suggest petrol leaked from the car went up in flames.

Emergency services were called to the blaze at around 8:22pm May 3.

Group manager for Avon Fire and Rescue Service Steve Quinton said: "We had a call from a taxi driver to say his vehicle had set on fire.

"Crews used breathing apparatus and a high powered jet hose to extinguish the fire. It was affecting a nearby electricity pole." 
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 LONDON

Black cab drivers are "polluting" a Paddington street with diesel fumes by idling in an “illegal” taxi rank, residents say.

Locals say cabbies queue every day along Praed Street to pick up customers outside Paddington tube station, St Mary’s Hospital and the Hilton Hotel.

Both sides of the “narrow” road have double yellow lines, and the upset neighbours accuse Westminster Council of turning a blind eye.

However the council said it has increased parking marshal patrols and the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) said creating a formal taxi rank would solve the problem.

Jake Laing, 34, of nearby Westbourne Terrace, said: “A few times I’ve spoken to the drivers but they just laughed or told me to f*** off. My neighbours had the same thing too.

“On top of that they sit there in a long line with gas guzzling engines spewing out diesel for hours.”

The IT worker added: “I’ve been sending Westminster Council photos of it but they just don’t do anything about it. They don’t want to p*** off the black cabs.”

Another resident, Andrew Harcourt, said: “There is an official taxi rank inside Paddington station. Taxis should be forced to keep to that rank only. They should also not queue for hundreds of metres on the public road causing a road safety issue.

“The pollution is appalling at the best of times but to have a row of taxis sat with diesel engines spewing fumes all day everyday right by the path is another example of how inconsiderate these drivers are.”

They also say the taxis can block the road and obstruct ambulances trying to reach St Mary’s Hospital A&E. The London Ambulance Service were approached for comment and they said no “significant issues” with congestion on Praed Street existed.

Local Labour councillors also say they have heard from "very many" local people complaining about the cabs.

Two black cab drivers approached by the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service on Tuesday (April 30) refused to comment on the issue.

Westminster Council's cabinet member for environment, Tim Mitchell, said: “Vehicles illegally blocking this section of Praed Street is unacceptable – that’s why we’ve stepped up the presence of our marshals in the area to prevent parking offences including idling. We’re continuing to monitor the situation, and working with TfL and others to find a permanent solution.

“As part of our ongoing #DontBeIdle campaign we’re educating all drivers on the effect of idling on air quality, but need Government to give councils greater powers to enforce against idling.“

LTDA chairman Richard Massett said: “The LTDA does not condone drivers parking unsafely and causing congestion in Praed Street.

“This situation highlights the current inadequate design of taxi facilities at the station. To rectify this the LTDA is currently working with TfL and Westminster City Council to establish a rank to serve both the hotels near the station and demand from the new Elizabeth line [Crossrail]. The current thinking of all parties is that a future rank would best be sited in Praed Street.”

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