A hackney taxi driver from Colchester has been left permanently scarred after a female passenger bit him when she realised she couldn’t pay for her journey.
No Money
20 year old Millie Young had been on a night out in Colchester when she lost her friends and decided to grab a hackney taxi home. She was picked up at the main taxi rank on High Street and asked to be taken to Clacton. The fare totalled £37 but it soon transpired that Miss Young only had £3 to her name.
Lucy Miller, prosecuting, said: “The victim picked the defendant up from the licensed hackney taxi rank in Colchester High Street and requested to go to Clacton.
“Young directed him to a secluded car park along Station Road and said she was going to get more money. The driver was concerned that he wouldn’t get paid and asked for identification.”
Turning Nasty
“She then bit him again on the arm causing blood to be drawn and ran away.”
When Miss Young refused to show identification, the driver took her handbag as reassurance that she would return with the fare but this only caused her to spiral out of control.
Miller continued: “Young bit his hand and started hitting the rear mirror. She then bit him again on the arm causing blood to be drawn and ran away.”
In the midst of the drama, a mobile phone had fallen out of Miss Young’s pocket so the driver waited to see if she would return for it. When there was no sign of her he went to Colchester General Hospital for treatment.
The driver made a victim impact statement which was read out in court. It said: “I was left feeling traumatised and constantly having flashbacks. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the incident. I now have permanent scars and laser treatment to reduce visibility is not available on the NHS.”
Guilty Plea
“I was left feeling traumatised and constantly having flashbacks.”
Raph Piggott, mitigating, said Miss Young had found out that her mother was diagnosed with cancer two days previously, had been to see her GP to be treated for depression the day before and was trying to forget what was happening with a night out.
An embarrassed Miss Young apologised in court for the ‘out of character’ behaviour and admitted to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Miss Young was sentenced to three months in a young offenders institute but the decision was deferred for twelve months.
She was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of community service, pay £500 compensation to the victim and will be tagged for three months with a curfew of 8pm to 8am.