Post by acnedriver on Feb 2, 2023 22:38:10 GMT
A teen beat a taxi driver in a gang attack that left the victim with chemical burns to his eyes.
Declan Day and two male accomplices attacked the man's face with a glass bottle on November 11.
One of the men threw liquid into the face of the licensed taxi driver, leaving him needing hospital treatment for chemical burns to his eyes, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Day, 18, was arrested after an officer identified him from CCTV footage, which covers Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough.
The three men flagged down the taxi at 4am, as it was turning onto Parliament Road, from Linthorpe Road.
They asked to be taken to Park End in North Ormesby, but when the driver asked them for payment, one of the men told him to drive them to his aunt's house on Lytton Court, so he could get the money.
Prosecutor Uzma Khan said that when the man parked up the front seat passenger threw a liquid over him.
She said: "A backseat passenger pushed his eyes into his sockets. The driver tried to reverse away, a backseat passenger got out, grabbed the keys from the ignition and began hitting him.
"Day struck him to the head with a glass bottle whilst taking money from his pockets. The bottle caused injuries to his face before bouncing off the windscreen and cracking it.
"The driver sat in shock as the men left. But they then returned and began hitting and kicking him, and asking for more money."
The court heard that the trio then returned for a third time, and "kicked him whilst he beeped his horn for help."
The driver then vomited, called the police, before losing consciousness.
Day was found on the roof of Gala Bingo, later that day at 1.15pm. He came down and was arrested, but he became violent.
"He headbutted the cell in the police van; he threatened to spit an the officer; and when the back door of the van was opened, he kicked out," Ms Khan continued.
The police put a spit hood on Day and placed him face down on the floor.
Day, of Overdale Road in Park End, Middlesbrough, was found guilty of robbery, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and the possession of a weapon. He admitted assaulting an emergency worker.
The court heard that when the taxi driver was taken to hospital, tests showed that the PH level in his eyes was eight.
Doctors said that his eyes had been burnt and he was also treated for cuts to his lip and eyebrow.
He had a sore back and a painful knee. The chemical burns to his eyes did not result in permanent damage.
In a statement, the taxi driver said that he had mental scars from the attack, in addition to the physical ones: "I feel unsafe constantly when doing my job and I now refuse to pick up any young males. This has had a financial effect on my family.
"I am a hard-working individual who is just trying to make a living."
John Nixon, defending, said Day who was 17 at the time of the attack, understands that this was a dreadful thing to do.
www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1728517/Teen-beat-taxi-driver-bottle-gang-attack-victim-chemical-burns
Declan Day and two male accomplices attacked the man's face with a glass bottle on November 11.
One of the men threw liquid into the face of the licensed taxi driver, leaving him needing hospital treatment for chemical burns to his eyes, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Day, 18, was arrested after an officer identified him from CCTV footage, which covers Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough.
The three men flagged down the taxi at 4am, as it was turning onto Parliament Road, from Linthorpe Road.
They asked to be taken to Park End in North Ormesby, but when the driver asked them for payment, one of the men told him to drive them to his aunt's house on Lytton Court, so he could get the money.
Prosecutor Uzma Khan said that when the man parked up the front seat passenger threw a liquid over him.
She said: "A backseat passenger pushed his eyes into his sockets. The driver tried to reverse away, a backseat passenger got out, grabbed the keys from the ignition and began hitting him.
"Day struck him to the head with a glass bottle whilst taking money from his pockets. The bottle caused injuries to his face before bouncing off the windscreen and cracking it.
"The driver sat in shock as the men left. But they then returned and began hitting and kicking him, and asking for more money."
The court heard that the trio then returned for a third time, and "kicked him whilst he beeped his horn for help."
The driver then vomited, called the police, before losing consciousness.
Day was found on the roof of Gala Bingo, later that day at 1.15pm. He came down and was arrested, but he became violent.
"He headbutted the cell in the police van; he threatened to spit an the officer; and when the back door of the van was opened, he kicked out," Ms Khan continued.
The police put a spit hood on Day and placed him face down on the floor.
Day, of Overdale Road in Park End, Middlesbrough, was found guilty of robbery, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and the possession of a weapon. He admitted assaulting an emergency worker.
The court heard that when the taxi driver was taken to hospital, tests showed that the PH level in his eyes was eight.
Doctors said that his eyes had been burnt and he was also treated for cuts to his lip and eyebrow.
He had a sore back and a painful knee. The chemical burns to his eyes did not result in permanent damage.
In a statement, the taxi driver said that he had mental scars from the attack, in addition to the physical ones: "I feel unsafe constantly when doing my job and I now refuse to pick up any young males. This has had a financial effect on my family.
"I am a hard-working individual who is just trying to make a living."
John Nixon, defending, said Day who was 17 at the time of the attack, understands that this was a dreadful thing to do.
www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1728517/Teen-beat-taxi-driver-bottle-gang-attack-victim-chemical-burns