A taxi driver was attacked and “used as a punch bag” by a customer in a row over an £8 fare.

The Banyards Taxi driver had picked up the passenger from the Maldon High Street taxi rank and was taking him on an £8 trip to Wickham Bishops, when he was told by the passenger that he only had £6 and would pay the rest at home.

But the journey turned violent outside the One Stop shop in The Street, Wickham Bishops, when the passenger lost his temper after being told by Christine Perfect, the taxi controller on duty at the time, that he would have to pay the full fare.

She said: “The bloke used his head as a punch bag as well as kicking the car.”

Colleen Bannister, 29, manager of Banyards Taxis which is based in Maldon High Street, said the incidents have left her drivers feeling angry and on-edge and day controller Robbie Reynolds added that this sort of incident is becoming a habit which needs to be broken. 

Another driver was attacked on Tuesday afternoon after picking up a passenger in Maldon and taking him to Heybridge.

 

See today's Maldon and Burnham Standard for the full story.