Taxi ride ends in assault on driver

Magistrates in Swindon heard how Andrew Austen, 34, rained punches on cab driver Patrick Hempenstall before trying to drag him out of the car.

Members of the public became involved and a woman trying to help the taxi driver was punched.

Austen, of Semley Walk, Penhill, admitted two counts of common assault and one count of criminal damage when he appeared in court yesterday.

Richard Thomas, prosecuting, said that Austen got into the taxi in Fleet Street before screaming at the diver to "go, go, go."

Mr Hempenstall then heard a smashing sound and saw the glass partition between the driver and passenger break, the court heard .

Stopping the car to ask Austen to get out, Mr Hempenstall was punched hard in the face causing considerable bruising.

Members of the public rushed to help the taxi driver, who tried to shut himself back inside the taxi.

Mr Thomas said: "One young lady tried to intervene and spirit the defendant away from the taxi driver and as a result she was punched on the cheek by Mr Austen."

Magistrates were also handed photographs taken by Mr Hempenstall of Austen at the scene.

Lee Mott, defending, said Austen could not recall the majority of the event but did not think he was drunk.

He said Austen had been subjected to a torturous childhood, having to be removed from the family home in Liverpool by social services at the age of two. An employee at Honda for two-and-a-half years, Mr Mott said Austen did not want to go to prison and leave his 18-month-old child without a father.

He said: "My client has expressed quite a considerable amount of remorse and understanding about what he did. He appreciates he caused injuries and is upset about that.

"He finds it hard to reconcile that he has hit a woman but he does accept that it did happen."

Magistrates ordered Austen to complete an 18-month punishment and rehabilitation order and pay £386.70 compensation to the victims.

He was also ordered to pay £118 prosecution costs.