Taxi row thug jailed

Taxi row thug jailed



A thug who was captured on CCTV punching a woman during a row over a taxi has been jailed.
The judge who sentenced Adam Perks said the quality of the close circuit coverage "graphically" highlighted the problems of late night drunken violence.

Preston Crown Court judge Pamela Badley jailed Perks despite being told by his barrister that a prison term would put his car valeting business in jeopardy.

The court was shown video footage taken on Market Street, Preston, just after 3am on a day in April.

Joanne Shepherd, prosecuting, said a row broke out over who was first in line for a taxi.

The victim Catherine Scholes and another girl were confronted by Perks.

After an episode of pushing and shoving Perks is seen to lash out with the back of his hand.

Miss Scholes falls backwards to the ground and the court heard she was unconscious for two minutes.

She needed treatment in the Royal Preston Hospital for injuries to her jaw and chin.

Perks, 31, of Alfred Street, Platt Bridge, Wigan, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.


The court was told that among
his 93 previous offences was a wounding and an assault on a police officer.

Anne Brown, defending, told the court Perks had built up a successful business and was earning £38,000 a year.

He accepted lashing out with the back of his hand during the row over the taxi.

Everyone had "consumed a great deal of alcohol", she added.

She said Perks was "enormously regretful, embarrassed and feels a great deal of shame at hitting a woman".

Miss Brown asked the judge to consider suspending any prison term.
But Judge Badley said she had decided the four month prison sentence she was imposing must be served.

"With each drunken assault decent people are less content to be out at night", said the judge.