THUG CALLED TAXI DRIVER A ‘DAFTY’ BEFORE ATTACK

ATHUG launched a vicious attack on a taxi driver over a disputed fare. Paul McLellan, 29, punched Glasgow city cab driver Malik Abaker, 43, in Glasgow’s Carntyne on January 17, last year.

McLellan was angered after paying £19.30 for a return journey to Rutherglen.

He called the driver “a dafty” before launching the attack which was recorded by Mr Abaker.

McLellan pleaded guilty yesterday at Glasgow Sheriff Court to the assault on Mr Abaker.

His co-accused Sandra Dennie, 32, admitted spitting on a police officer and claim she was Hepatitis C.

The court heard McLellan and a “female passenger” were picked up from McLellan’s property in Carntyne.

The pair paid an agreed upfront fee of £20 to take them to Rutherglen before returning to Carntyne.

The fare later came to £19.30 and the 70p change was returned to the female passenger.

Prosecutor John Bedford said: “McLellan became irate and started arguing with the driver over the cost of the fare and became more aggressive.

“The driver feared for his safety and grabbed his phone and began recording the two passengers.

“He told them to get out his taxi while McLellan was arguing with him, calling him a dafty. positive for

“McLellan lunged at and attacked him by punching him with a clenched fist from the rear of the vehicle.”

Mr Abaker fled the scene for his safety while the two passengers went into McLellan’s house.

McLellan and Dennie were arrested at the property later that night.

Dennie spat on a constable which hit him in the eye at a police station.

She said: “Aye and I’ve got Hep C anaw.”

The officer was treated at hospital and given a blood test.

Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports by Sheriff Tom Hughes who continued McLellan’s bail and Dennie’s remand in custody meantime.