Curfew for teen after taxi attack

Victim: taxi driver Ansar Mahmood

Published Date: 12 May 2008
By Suzanne Rutter
A TEENAGER has been sentenced for assaulting a taxi driver.
Jonathan Demach, 19, of Valley Way, Illingworth, Halifax, admitted attacking Ansar Mahmood, of Ziggy's.

Waseem Raja, prosecuting, told Calderdale magistrates the offence happened at 10pm on March 8 when Mr Mahmood collected six young men from Mixenden Court, Halifax.

The men were abusive because the driver refused to take them to the Royal Oak pub in Halifax town centre.

But as the vehicle stopped, Demach, the front seat passenger, punched Mr Mahmood in the face.

He was then assaulted by some of the other men. He suffered minor injuries.

Demach was arrested from the Royal Oak and later tested positive for cocaine.

Demach, representing himself, said: "We were meant to go to the Royal Oak but he took us to the taxi rank instead.

"I hit him before I got hit because all his four mates came out from the taxi rank."

Chairman of the bench, John Smith, told him: "He probably went to the taxi rank for a good cause. He was surrounded by six men.

"This was completely unjustified assault and is viewed seriously by the courts."

He was given a 12-month community order with 150 hours of community work, plus a three-month curfew.

He was also told to pay £60 costs and £80 compensation