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Thugs stab cabbie with screwdriver

Bethan Dorsett
31/ 7/2007

VICIOUS thugs stabbed a taxi driver with a screwdriver and knocked out two front teeth during a robbery in Hamer.

The 55-year-old's ordeal began shortly after he picked up two men wearing hooded tops in Buckley Road, Smallbridge at about 2am on Monday.

The driver's son, who spoke on his behalf because his father has limited English, told of how the thugs first asked to go to Wardle, but then got him to stop in Red Lane.

"It was at that point that the alarm bells started to ring," said the son, who asked to remain anonymous.

"They grabbed my father and then started punching him. When the taxi stopped one of them hit him in the back with the screwdriver."

The men then sped off in the vehicle, which was found later in nearby Clover Hall Crescent with £60 in takings missing.

The victim raised the alarm after walking home and was taken to hospital suffering from wounds to his back, one of his ears and his face.

The son added: "He is all right and is not the type of person to tell us if he is in pain. But I am furious about what they did to him.

"They obviously wanted the money, but did not need to hurt him like that."

Detective Chief Inspector Jeff McMahon is appealing for any witnesses to come forward by calling 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

"Sadly, taxi drivers are particularly vulnerable to this type of attack because they work alone, often in the early hours of the morning," he said.

'The investigation is in its infancy but we are following certain lines of inquiry.

"However, we would obviously welcome information from anyone who might have seen the attack."

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