Taxi driver held captive in own cab

A TAXI driver was held prisoner in his own cab by a man nursing a three-year grudge.
He was punched, gouged in the eye and burned on the neck with a cigarette while being forced to drive around for more than 45 minutes.
The cabbie feared for his life when his attacker – who was high on a cocktail of drink and drugs – threatened to kill him and his family, Warrington Crown Court was told.
Darren Haddock, 29, of Leicester Street, Warrington admitted two offences of assault and was given a 10-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

The court heard he was already in custody for another offence.
Another man, Stuart Howard, 21, of Winifred Street, Warrington, was ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work and made the subject of a 12-month community order.
A third man, Dean Brettle, 26, also of Leicester Street, admitted another assault outside a pub in company with Haddock and was ordered to do 150-hours unpaid work, pay £200 compensation and was made subject to a 12-month community order.
Sion Mihangel, prosecuting, said Haddock and Howard attacked taxi driver Ian Dillon in his cab.
Howard ran off after punching Mr Dillon five times. But Haddock, who had a three-year grudge arising from an occasion when Mr Dillon spent a night at his mother’s home, forced the cabbie to drive around Warrington for a further 45 minutes, punching him, gouging him in the eye and stubbing out a lighted cigarette on his neck.
When Mr Dillon attempted to escape, Haddock told him: “Get back in the car or I’ll kill your family, I’ll slash your kids from cheek to cheek.”
He eventually managed to escape but was left nursing two black eyes, swollen cheeks, bruising and a burn to the neck.
The court heard Haddock committed the offence while on bail for another assault when he and his cousin, Brettle, attacked a man standing outside The Howley Hotel, kicking and punching him and leaving him with a fractured jaw.
Michael Scholes, for Haddock, said his client had a special relationship with his mother, who he often cared for due to deteriorating health.
The court heard the other two defendants got involved in the offences through misguided loyalty.