A 71 year old private hire taxi driver has been left in a serious state after being subjected to a horrifying ordeal whilst on the job.
Overindulgence
On the 7th of August 2015, Craig Pesch, a millionaire property developer, was on his way home from a school reunion having consumed £14,000 worth of vintage champagne.
The unsuspecting driver of Delta Taxis, Ratid Shilaka, collected his customer at 4:20am outside the prestigious Maddox Club in Mayfair, London.
Brutal Attack on Private Hire Taxi Driver
Mr Pesch asked to be taken to one of his properties in South West London but when Mr Shilaka couldn’t find the new-build apartment on the sat nav, Mr Pesch turned into “a raging bull”. Mr Shilaka received several blows to the head leaving him unconscious and in a pool of blood.
Prosecutor Edward Aydin said: “He got into Mr Shilaka’s taxi and told him he wanted to go to SW18.
“Mr Shilaka put the postcode into his sat nav but it didn’t show as a valid address. Mr Pesch then got out the car, opened the driver’s door and began punching Mr Shilaka repeatedly.
“Mr Shilaka was a punching bag for a Raging Bull. Mr Pesch mercilessly punched the victim in a sustained attack with immense force.
“He was strapped into his seat belt at the time so had no escape and Mr Pesch was knocking him around like a rag doll.”
Severe Injuries and Loss of Earnings
Mr Pesch fled the scene of the crime whilst Mr Shilaka was rushed to hospital. He received emergency surgery to rewire his jaw and was treated for facial lacerations, which were reported as “oozing with blood”. Due to his injuries, he has been forced out of a job with a loss of around £7,000 of earnings to date and can only drink liquidised food through a straw.
Jail Sentence
The court heard that police officers found Mr Pesch at 4:40am, covered in his victim’s blood, on the ground in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair. Mr Pesch said that he had “fallen over” and denied any involvement in the attack.
Mr Aydin continues: “Mr Pesch gave him a beating that he’ll never ever forget and no-one knows if Mr Shilaka will ever get his self-esteem and dignity back.”
Later admitting to the offence, Mr Pesch stated: “I can’t explain my actions and I’m disgusted by my behaviour that night.”
Chairman of the bench, Stevie Dee, informed Mr Pesch that he should expect to face a jail sentence.
He said: “This was an attack on someone only doing their job. It was a sustained assault on a vulnerable victim.
“There was no escape for the victim who was strapped in by his seat belt and is a category one offence, too serious for this court.”
Pesch, of Kings Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, has been released on bail before being sentenced at Southwark Crown Court.