Man threw bottles at taxi and refused to pay
HIT WINDSCREEN OF CAR WITH STICK, DAMAGING IT
A YOB has been ordered to pay compensation after he refused to pay for a taxi fare then smashed the vehicle’s windscreen.
Brandon Durning had been given a lift from Newcastle city centre to Whitley Bay and had already told the cabbie he had the cash to pay the £26 fare.
A court heard, however, that the 20-year-old, who already has more than 50 offences on his criminal record, turned aggressive when he reached his destination and tried to walk away without coughing up.
As the driver turned the vehicle around, Durning returned and threw a beer bottle towards the taxi, which missed.
Durning picked up another bottle and hurled it at the cab’s windscreen, causing it to crack.
North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard that the terrified taxi driver drove around the corner in order to ring the police but was followed by Durning, who used a large stick to hit the windscreen again and damage it further.
The police eventually arrived and Durning was arrested. Now, the yob, of North Ridge, in Whitley Bay, has been ordered to pay £250 compensation after he pleaded guilty to criminal damage and making-off without paying a taxi fare.
Rehana Haque, prosecuting, said Durning flagged down the taxi in Newcastle city centre in the early hours of April 2 this year. When told the cost of the fare to Whitley Bay, Durning said he had the cash on him to pay it.
Ms Haque told magistrates that Durning sat quietly and calmly for the duration of the journey until the end when he got out and said “You’ve been bumped”. Reading from the driver’s statement, Ms Haque said: “He walked towards an address and, as I turned my vehicle around, he said ‘You want this through your window?’ while holding a bottle of beer above his head. I said ‘No’ and he threw the bottle towards the vehicle.
“It missed and smashed on the ground. The male then went into a garage then turned around and threw another beer bottle towards my vehicle with force.
“It caused my windscreen to nearly crack. I drove off to ring the police.
“The male followed and he had a large stick. He came up and hit the windscreen with it, which caused further damage.”
The court heard the windscreen cost £150 to repair and the victim’s taxi was off the road for a number of days.
In a further statement, he said: “I don’t know why someone would want to do this to me after I’d done nothing to them.
“I’m worried it will happen again.”
Magistrates were told Durning was on a three-year community order at the time, which he’d been given by the crown court for an assault.
Annalisa Moscardini, defending, said Durning suffered from serious mental health issues and had a low IQ.
She added: “He has a lack of appreciation of the consequences of his actions.”