THUG TAXI ATTACKER WALKS FREE

A father of five who violently attacked a taxi driver has walked free from court.

During the attack, Jermaine Preston, 41, punched, kicked and stamped on his victim - but the judge decided that imprisoning him would have a "potentially harmful impact" on the defendant's five children.

Preston was drunk and high in the taxi with a female friend after a night out, and when a misunderstanding over money occurred, the taxi driver stopped the car and asked his passengers to calm down.

Preston then launched his first attack, punching the driver repeatedly, who was unable to defend himself as he was strapped into his seat. When he finally managed to release the buckle and flee the car, Preston chased him and punched him in the head and then kicked his head "like a football".


Preston went back to the taxi and started looking for valuables to steal. When the taxi driver tried to stop him, he attacked him again, punching him to the floor and raining blows onto his head.

A witness from a nearby house said the attack was:



Police were called and arrested Preston at the scene. He told officers he had been attacked first. He handed the driver's phone, which he had stolen, to officers and later, while being treated for his own injuries in hospital, he was also found to have the driver's wallet, bank card and £45 cash.

At his hearing, The court heard Preston had 13 sets of convictions for 28 offences including drink-driving and assault.

But the judge noted that his last previous conviction was when he was 'considerably younger' and he had shown previously he could "keep out of trouble".

He said the crime was aggravated by his "drinking to excess" and "substance abuse" on the night. But he said "on balance" an immediate term of imprisonment was not required, noting the defendant had a number of children living in "somewhat difficult circumstances": "I'm satisfied that the imposition of an immediate custodial sentence would have an immediate and potentially harmful upon them," said Judge Smith.

Preston, of Hawthorn Avenue in Radcliffe, showed no reaction as he was handed a 16-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months. He had earlier admitted to assault and theft.

Source: Manchester Evening News