REWARD OFFERED AFTER TAXI DRIVER BEATEN UP

A REWARD is being offered to help catch thugs responsible for a nasty New Year’s Eve attack on a taxi driver in Nuneaton .

They left the driver, who has not been identified but is aged in his 30s, with a head injury following the nasty assault in Queens Road.

Shocked bosses at MI Taxis have slammed the attackers and stumped up a £1,000 reward for anyone who can help identify those responsible.

John Igoe, who runs the firm, said: “For all I know, this driver could decide not to drive taxis again because of this. This is his livelihood. He was simply trying to earn a living, out driving a taxi when others were having a good time, it is not fair or nice what happened to him.”

The driver had dropped off the passengers in his gold minibus on Queens Road at around 11.30pm when he was approached by two men whose heads were covered with hoodies.

“They have demanded that he hand over his money, which he didn’t,” the taxi boss explained. But, because his window was open, they have punched him in the side of the head and stole his data box that the jobs come through on.

“When the bells were going for New Year, I was shaking hands with two policemen and trying to look after the driver, I thought to myself ‘It shouldn’t be like this, this driver is just trying to earn a living’ that’s when I decided to offer the reward.

“This isn’t about what was stolen, it is about what happened to this driver and I want these two hoodies caught and prosecuted, what we need is names and we need them to be given to the police.”

The reward will be given to whoever can provide the information which leads to the prosecution of the two suspects.

“Sadly, this is happening too often, I want this to stop, taxi drivers are just doing their job at the end of the day and shouldn’t have to put up with this.”

A spokesperson for Warwickshire Police Force said: “Enquires are still on-going and officers are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed an altercation or has information relating to the individuals involved, to come forward.”

Anyone with any information should either call police on 101, quoting incident 331 of December 31, or the Crimestoppers hotline, which is free to call from a landline and confidential, on 08000 555 111.