Newcastle Man Sentenced for Brutal Late-Night Taxi Driver Attack

A Newcastle man has been ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation after a violent and unprovoked assault on a taxi driver in the early hours of the morning. Aaron Kendall, 24, admitted to unintentional wounding following an incident that left the victim with a forehead injury and lasting fear while at work.

The attack occurred around 3 AM in Newcastle’s Bigg Market, where Kendall, heavily intoxicated, approached a taxi. The driver agreed to take him to Walbottle but had to stop at a cash machine so Kendall could withdraw money for the fare. As the driver stepped out of the vehicle to assist, Kendall unexpectedly struck him in the face, knocking him to the ground. Witnesses described the attack as both violent and unnecessary. A similar drunk passenger attack on a taxi driver in Newcastle’s Bigg Market has raised concerns about the safety of taxi drivers in the area.

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw explained the incident in court:

“After withdrawing money, the defendant turned and punched the taxi driver hard in the face, knocking him to the ground.”

Wardlaw further detailed Kendall’s aggressive behavior:

“He then swung at the driver again but missed, before chasing him around the car shouting ‘come on.’”

The driver, fearing further harm, managed to escape in his vehicle and later received medical attention at an ambulance stationed nearby. In a statement read in court, he expressed his concerns about returning to work, citing anxiety over potential future assaults.

Recorder Ian Mullarkey strongly condemned Kendall’s actions:

“This was an utterly disgraceful and unprovoked attack involving gratuitous violence against someone providing a public service.”

The court was informed that Kendall had previous convictions related to alcohol-fueled aggression. While the judge acknowledged that Kendall had come close to receiving an immediate custodial sentence, he determined there was potential for rehabilitation. As a result, Kendall received a one-year jail sentence, suspended for 18 months.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Kendall must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and adhere to a strict curfew from 9 PM to 6 AM for three months. He is also required to pay the taxi driver £1,000 in compensation, to be paid in monthly installments of £100.