05 March 2024 , 10:39
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A woman angrily smashed a taxi driver on the head with a bottle and her drunken boyfriend repeatedly punched him after a Christmas Day argument turned violent.
The fight broke out when the driver adamantly refused to drive the two passengers to where they wanted to go because he did not like their "attitude" when they got into his taxi and slammed the doors, Hull Crown Court heard.
Millie Crockett, 21, of Gleneagles Park, east Hull, and her then boyfriend, Kieron Marston, 23, of the Goddard Avenue area of west Hull, admitted assaulting the man and causing actual bodily harm, on Christmas Day in 2021.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said that the taxi driver went to Steynburg Street, off Holderness Road, east Hull, after 10pm for a booking in the name of Crockett to be taken to Goddard Avenue. Crockett and Marston allegedly slammed the door as they got in the taxi and there was an atmosphere that put the driver on edge.
Marston's door was not closed properly and he slammed it again and is claimed to have said: "Just drive." The driver then said: "I don't like your attitude. I am not taking you. I don't want you in my car. I don't like your attitude. Get yourself another car. I'm not taking you."
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Crockett bottled a taxi driver and Marston punched him, a court heard (Hull Live / MEN Media)Marston sprayed the driver on his head and shoulder with a large two-litre bottle of fizzy drink. He got out and started to swing punches at the driver, who pushed him back. Marston fell over, reported HullLive.
Crockett punched him from behind and Marston pushed him over. The driver then felt an injury to his head and blood started to pour from it. Crockett had hit him with a bottle before she and Marston left the scene.
The man drove to his taxi office in Holderness Road. He was bleeding heavily from cuts to his head and went to Hull Royal Infirmary where the injuries were stitched and glued. Crockett was later seen to have blood on her clothes and shoes. During police interview, Crockett admitted being present at the scene but denied hitting the taxi driver with a bottle. Marston denied punching the man and denied any responsibility. He admitted spraying the drink but denied an assault.
The driver later said that he suffered physical exhaustion, shock and distress and blamed himself. He had lost trust in customers and had a constant feeling of vulnerability, particularly at Christmas. "He had to take several months off as a result," said Mr Welch.
He missed out on working New Year's Eve, which caused financial loss, and he suffered a range of negative emotions. The assault had left a lasting impact and his injuries were a reminder of "that traumatic day", and it had a significant impact on his life and his lovedones.
Crockett had no previous convictions. Marston had convictions for domestic burglary and handling stolen goods in August 2018. Nigel Clive, mitigating, said that it was a spontaneous and short-lived assault and Crockett had shouted "Get off him, get off him" half a dozen times to the taxi driver. She was "blameless" at that point and was trying to separate the driver and Marston.
Crockett struck one blow with the bottle, leading to him needing a few stitches. "She accepts her actions in full," said Mr Clive. "She is ashamed and remorseful." He added: "It looks nasty, but perhaps the injury has healed a lot better than the psychological concerns."
Crockett was in a "toxic" relationship with Marston at the time. "That relationship has finished," said Mr Clive. She hoped to become a nurse. Samantha Laws, representing Marston, said that it was an unpleasant offence. "He is aware of that," said Miss Laws. "He doesn't shy away from what he has done.
"He was the instigator. He sprayed lemonade and, before that, he slammed the door and that started this whole offending. This is an impulsive and spontaneous assault. The defendant was trying to get away. He was repeatedly shouting at the taxi driver to get off him. The taxi driver was trying to take him by the throat."
Marston had drunk up to 15 drinks before that and he was heavily drunk. He was asked to close the door because it had not closed properly, but the driver did not like his attitude and Marston took exception. "He made a stupid decision," said Miss Laws. "He poured that drink over the taxi driver. There was an argument between them all before things started to get physical. The taxi driver had hold of him."
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Marston, a supermarket worker, had not been in trouble since the incident and he drank less now and did not go out socialising. "He plays on his Xbox all the time," said Miss Laws. "He fully regrets his actions. He is very sorry to the victim. He has not acted negatively since this happened."
Crockett was given a 10-month suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay £300 compensation to the taxi driver. Marston was given a nine-month suspended sentence and was told to pay £250 compensation. They were each given 200 hours' unpaid work.