A shaken up black cab driver has revealed how he was the subject of an unprovoked and terrifying attack.
Hackney cabbie, Muhammad Naeem, who was only recently in the news for returning £1,000 to a customer after it was left in the back of his cab, picked up a customer in the early hours of Tuesday morning with no suspicions as to what would happen next.
On arrival at Heys View, the passenger said he needed to go inside the property to ask a friend for the cash to pay his £8.50 fare.
When the passenger came back it quickly became apparent that he had no intention of paying his fare. Mr Naeem’s attacker refused to pay the money and an argument broke out.
The Incident
Mr Naeem captured the incident on his mobile phone and the video footage shows the moment that his attacker racially abused him and then proceeds to smash the window and drag him from his cab.
At this point the screen goes blank but you can still hear the painful screams from the father of four as he is kicked and punched to the ground. Thankfully, Mr Naeem managed to get to his feet and run to safety in a neighbouring house before the thug could do any more damage, escaping with bruising to his back and ribs.
Working Family Man
Despite feeling terrified, Mr Naeem has said that he has no choice but to return to the job and support his family.
“I want to go back to work without worrying about racism and violence.”
He commented: “This is the worst attack I’ve had in my life but if I don’t go back to work how can I earn any money? Mentally, I don’t feel secure and that’s not just for me but for other taxi drivers.
“I’m an honest man and I want to go back to work without worrying about racism and violence.”
Police Response
District Chief Inspector Paula Booth, said: “At 4.55am on Tuesday 2 June, police were called to a report of an assault on a taxi driver on Heys View, Rawthorpe, in which the window of his vehicle was damaged and the suspect had fled the scene.
“We would urge anyone who has any information about this incident to come forward to help bring the offender to justice.”
The suspect is described as white, in his late 20s to early 30s, with short, dark hair and was wearing a blue t-shirt with white horizontal stripes.
Anyone with information can contact via 101, or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.