Ollerton teenagers punched taxi driver after he asked for fare

TWO men attacked a taxi driver after he chased them when they fled without paying.

A judge described cabbie Philip Horton’s injuries as looking like someone had “walked on his head”.

Matthew Parmley and Liam Triandafilou, both 19, had spent all their money on drink before they got in his taxi.

When Mr Horton pulled over in a lay-by near Ollerton, they fled with a third passenger, Luke Cresswell.

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Mr Horton caught up with them in an alleyway, Nottingham Crown Court heard, and asked for his fare.

Then Parmley and Triandafilou punched him and left the scene with Cresswell.

Afterwards, Mr Horton raised the alarm and was taken to King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield, for treatment to a cut to his head and eye.

On seeing the photographs of his injuries, Judge Michael Stokes, QC, said: “It looks like someone has walked on his head.”

Palmley, of Kingsway Avenue, New Ollerton, and Triandafilou, of Walesby Lane, New Ollerton, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and making off without payment.

They received community orders for one year, with a requirement to do 125 hours of unpaid work. They were also told to pay Mr Horton £400 each in compensation.

Judge Stokes added: “Anyone who assaults a taxi driver risks immediate imprisonment and, in this case, had either of you had previous convictions for any form of violence, both of you will have gone straight into custody.”

Cresswell, 22, of Fourth Avenue, Edwinstowe, pleaded guilty to making off without payment. He was fined £250 for his involvement and will have to pay a £15 victim surcharge. No evidence was offered against him in relation to the assault.

The judge told them all: “It was plainly planned that this journey was not going to be paid for because you had obviously spent between you all your money on alcohol.”

The men were traced because Cresswell had used his mobile to call the taxi on March 11. In a police interview he named the other two and they were arrested. “He described seeing the other two punching Mr Horton,” said Robbie Singh, prosecuting.

In mitigation for Cresswell, Martin Hurst said: “He got involved in this stupid decision to escape from the taxi driver without paying.”

Triandafilou had claimed Mr Horton grabbed him and there had been a struggle.

Julia King said, in mitigation for him, that he was a kitchen porter earning £200 to £250 a week.

Michael Auty, representing Parmley, said: “It’s a ludicrous state of affairs that they should be here. One thing led to another. Drink is the catalyst of it all.”