Newcastle Taxi Driver Attacked by Drunken Passenger in City Centre

A Newcastle taxi driver was the victim of an unprovoked and violent assault by an intoxicated passenger in the early hours of April 14 last year. The attacker, identified as 24-year-old Aaron Kendall from Kenton, Newcastle, has now been sentenced for the incident that left the cabbie injured and unable to work for days.

The assault took place around 2:45 am in the Bigg Market, a well-known nightlife area in Newcastle. Kendall, who was visibly intoxicated, approached the taxi driver while in a dispute with another individual. Similar incidents of violence against taxi drivers have been reported across the UK, including a case in Liverpool where a drunk offender was jailed for a violent taxi robbery.

Kendall requested a ride to Walbottle, saying:

Taxi driver recalled:

"Please get me out of town, I don't feel safe."

Due to the lack of a card machine in the taxi and Kendall’s claim of not having cash, both agreed to stop at an ATM. However, tensions escalated when Kendall claimed insufficient funds but was later seen withdrawing money. Without provocation, he struck the driver with a forceful punch, knocking him to the ground. As the cabbie attempted to flee, Kendall pursued him, shouting:

Kendall was heard shouting:

"Come on, come on."

Captured on CCTV, the attack left the driver with a deep forehead wound requiring medical glue. He later described his fear and financial loss, saying:

Victim expressed:

"Immediately afterwards and for two or three days I felt unsafe and scared to go on jobs."

"I don't understand why I have been randomly attacked while helping vulnerable people and getting them home safely. I lost a week of money because I didn't work until the following weekend. I'm very upset this has happened to me."

Kendall pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and was sentenced to a 12-month prison term, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, adhere to a three-month curfew from 9 PM to 6 AM, and pay £1,000 in compensation to the victim.

Recorder Ian Mullarkey condemned Kendall’s behavior, stating:

Recorder Ian Mullarkey declared:

"This was utterly disgraceful, it was completely unprovoked, gratuitous violence because you were drunk."

"There was no justification for it and the victim and people like him need protection from people like you when you are drunk. This was drink-fuelled violence and an attack on someone providing a public service. You have come incredibly close to going to prison."

The case highlights the ongoing risks faced by taxi drivers, particularly in city nightlife areas where alcohol-related violence remains a concern.