SEEMS NO JUSTICE!
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SEEMS NO JUSTICE!
by Aftab Sat 17 Nov 2007 - 19:52
MARINE ATTACKED TAXI DRIVER IN ROW OVER FARE
A Royal Marine lashed out at a city taxi driver after an argument about the fare for a late-night journey to Exmouth.
Corporal Darren Lewis pleaded guilty to assaulting taxi driver Habibi Babak by beating him in an incident in the early hours of Friday, October 26.
He also admitted damaging a £100 perspex screen in Mr Babak's taxi.
The court was told that Lewis carried out the assault at about 3am in Exeter city centre after Mr Babak had picked him up from outside Mambos nightclub.
The driver told Lewis he needed the fare of £20 to Exmouth upfront.
But Lewis said he did not have enough money and would get the rest in Exmouth when he got to his girlfriend's home.
Mr Babak asked him to get out of the vehicle or he would call the police.
Father-of-one Lewis refused and when Mr Babak said he would drive to the police station he still would not get out.
While Mr Babak was driving to the police station, Lewis broke the perspex divide in the cab and grabbed Mr Babak and pulled the back of his jumper tight around his neck, causing abrasions to his skin.
The driver drove to the taxi rank in Sidwell Street to get help. Lewis got out and walked off along Sidwell Street but was picked up on CCTV and was arrested by police.
Lewis told police he was drunk but that Mr Babak drove erratically and he did not know where he was being taken. He said he grabbed him because he wanted to get out.
Mitigating, Peter Seigne told Exeter magistrates Lewis had just returned from high-altitude training, a stressful exercise where he was in a position of high responsibility.
He said Lewis had spent a number of months on active service in an extremely hostile war zone.
Warrant Officer Miles Hall said that Lewis, based at 42 Commando in Plymouth, was being considered for promotion and had no disciplinary record in the marines, but would face a colonel over thie assault.
He said Lewis had experienced stressful warzone situations including a vehicle ambush where there had been two casualties. One of his team had been hit by shrapnel in another incident.
Mr Seigne said Lewis apologised to Mr Babak.
Magistrates ordered that Lewis, of Grove Road, Portland, Dorset paid £50 in compensation to Mr Babak and £60 court costs.
A Royal Marine lashed out at a city taxi driver after an argument about the fare for a late-night journey to Exmouth.
Corporal Darren Lewis pleaded guilty to assaulting taxi driver Habibi Babak by beating him in an incident in the early hours of Friday, October 26.
He also admitted damaging a £100 perspex screen in Mr Babak's taxi.
The court was told that Lewis carried out the assault at about 3am in Exeter city centre after Mr Babak had picked him up from outside Mambos nightclub.
The driver told Lewis he needed the fare of £20 to Exmouth upfront.
But Lewis said he did not have enough money and would get the rest in Exmouth when he got to his girlfriend's home.
Mr Babak asked him to get out of the vehicle or he would call the police.
Father-of-one Lewis refused and when Mr Babak said he would drive to the police station he still would not get out.
While Mr Babak was driving to the police station, Lewis broke the perspex divide in the cab and grabbed Mr Babak and pulled the back of his jumper tight around his neck, causing abrasions to his skin.
The driver drove to the taxi rank in Sidwell Street to get help. Lewis got out and walked off along Sidwell Street but was picked up on CCTV and was arrested by police.
Lewis told police he was drunk but that Mr Babak drove erratically and he did not know where he was being taken. He said he grabbed him because he wanted to get out.
Mitigating, Peter Seigne told Exeter magistrates Lewis had just returned from high-altitude training, a stressful exercise where he was in a position of high responsibility.
He said Lewis had spent a number of months on active service in an extremely hostile war zone.
Warrant Officer Miles Hall said that Lewis, based at 42 Commando in Plymouth, was being considered for promotion and had no disciplinary record in the marines, but would face a colonel over thie assault.
He said Lewis had experienced stressful warzone situations including a vehicle ambush where there had been two casualties. One of his team had been hit by shrapnel in another incident.
Mr Seigne said Lewis apologised to Mr Babak.
Magistrates ordered that Lewis, of Grove Road, Portland, Dorset paid £50 in compensation to Mr Babak and £60 court costs.
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