Three charged with racially aggravated assault and criminal damage against Muslim taxi driver
Categories: Latest News
Friday March 23 2012
The Lancashire Evening Post has reported on the conclusion of a trial of two men and a woman charged with racially aggravated assault and criminal damage after an attack on a Muslim taxi driver in Preston on December 28th last year. The three individuals were found guilty and will be sentenced at a later date.
From the LEP:
“A taxi driver today told how he feared for his life after a group of passengers launched a racist attack on him before threatening to “take him down a side street and kill him”.
“During the terrifying incident, father–of-five Muhammed Hussain, from Holme Slack, Preston, was spat at, punched in the face, grabbed around the neck and called racist names.
“His attackers even threatened to cut off his beard.
“Preston Magistrates Court found both men guilty of racially aggravated assault and criminal damage to the taxi, which was kicked and dented when Mr Hussain pulled over to let them out at Lane Ends pub in Ashton.
“Burn’s girlfriend Bryanne-Serrita Langham, 22, of Sylvancroft, Ingol, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a taxi and making off without paying the £4.50 fare.
“Today Mr Hussain, 36, told the Evening Post: “I thought they were going to kill me.
“This is the first time someone has been so violent towards me. It is out of order particularly being spat on – that was an insult. I believe it was because I am a Muslim. I was scared for my life.”
The prosecution told the court how Hussain was spat on, punched and held around the neck in what felt like an attempt to choke him. The article continues,
“In evidence, Mr Hussain said: “I could not understand it. He punched me again. I started feeling dizzy and then the person in the front grabbed my neck.”
“The court heard in police interviews both men denied using racist language, assault or kicking the taxi.
“Both claimed the taxi driver had actually punched Burns in the eye.
“Both admitted they were drunk and could not remember much of the incident.
“Tennant, who denied the offences, told the court he had consumed eight cans of beer and some Malibu, but “would not bring trouble like that to his grandparent’s front door.”
“All three will be sentenced at a later date.”
The Institute of Race Relations last December drew attention to a mass strike threatened by taxi drivers in Cardiff in protest against the “routine racist abuse and violence” they face in their jobs and the “indifference by the police and local council”.