Jailed Chef Claims Assault Victim Faked Injury

Jailed Chef Claims Assault Victim Faked Injury
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An out of work chef who claimed a taxi driver took a football-style dive
and made up an assault allegation, has been jailed.


District Judge Tim Gascoyne heard Ben Walster punched County Cars
driver Anwar Tumi inside his taxi.

The incident took place in Lincoln on June 10 last year after a dispute over
a fare.

But giving evidence, Walster said he had no physical contact with the
driver and that Mr Anwar had faked a facial injury, holding his face and
complaining to the police he had been punched.

The court heard the pair had argued over a fare from Christopher's pub in
Newland, Lincoln, to Hermit Street - five minutes away.

During the journey Mr Tumi said that as the trip was after midnight, it
would cost £6.

The judge heard Walster was aggressive and swore as he refused to
accept this, offering to pay £3.

Mr Anwar said Walster had punched him inside the taxi.

Mr Walster (22), a former head chef at the Royal William in Brayford
Wharf, Lincoln, agreed that a dispute had taken place, but denied the
racial slur and hitting Mr Anwar.

District Judge Tim Gascoyne jailed Walster, of Hermit Street, Lincoln, for
90 days for assault by beating and 10 days for two breaches of a
community order, to run consecutively.