Thug ‘could lose job’ over Uber driver assault

ATHUG who attacked a private hire driver after he pulled up on the kerb lost his home and could lose his job. Glasgow Sheriff Court heard Christopher Leitch was “heavily” drunk when he threw a can at an Uber driver, kicked his vehicle and hit him in chest with his hand.

The 20-year-old had flown into a rage after thinking the driver came too close to himself and a friend.

The incident happened around 7.50pm on March 8 when the victim pulled up on Old Dumbarton Road in his private hire vehicle.

Depute fiscal Jessica McGowan told the court: “The accused, having consumed a quantity of alcohol, was walking past looking at the witness and aggressively threw his can at the taxi, which struck the driver’s side window, causing damage to the vehicle.

“He took a photo and began shouting aggressively.

“A woman began to record on her mobile phone.

“The accused approached the witness, who was within his vehicle, and struck him twice to the chest with an open palm, then kicked the wing mirror off.

“He then reached in and tried to pull the witness out of the vehicle.”

Leitch’s defence agent said he was “heavily under the influence of drink” when the incident happened.

The lawyer said: “He felt the driver had pulled up violently and had jeopardised the safety of himself and another person.

“He has been in custody for this matter for 41 days.

“He resorted to drink and street Valium which, in my experience, causes people to behave in a very irrational way indeed. He has lost his housing. He was employed but unless he sorts himself out that’s not open to him. He realises he has made a complete fool of himself in this.”

Sheriff Mary Shields said that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

Leitch, from Clydebank, was sent to prison for 40 days for one charge and 60 days for the second, to run concurrently and backdated to take account of days already served.