Partner dashes out to hit fare row taxi driver
JCB welder Craig Caddy punched a taxi driver after the victim argued with his partner over a fare.
Caddy was asleep in bed at his Biddulph home when his partner returned home after a night out in Congleton with friends.
The 26-year-old heard a commotion outside his house in Rupert Street and went to see what was going on.
But instead of calming the situation, the dad was abusive to the driver and punched him in the face, causing a cut to his lower lip.
Caddy denied racially aggravated assault by beating.
But he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of common assault on the day of his trial yesterday.
The pleas were accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service and the defendant was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work.
It came after a probation officer gave a verbal report about Caddy to Judge Robert Trevor-Jones.
She said the defendant, who is valued by his employer, reacted instinctively and accepted that what he did was inappropriate and totally unacceptable.
The officer added that the defendant has a previous conviction for violence, a drunken affray in 2002 when he was aged 18, but is now a family man with a large mortgage.
He also played semi-professional football on Saturdays and for a pub side on Sundays.
The officer told the court she did not perceive Caddy to be a risk of re-offending.
Trevor Meegan, mitigating, asked for the defendant to be sentenced to a community order with unpaid work.
"He wasn't in the taxi," said Mr Meegan. "He doesn't know what was agreed or not agreed (regarding the fare).
"He got up and, confronted with the situation outside, he over-reacted."
As well as the unpaid work, Caddy was ordered to pay his victim £200 compensation, as well as £500 towards prosecution costs.
Judge Trevor-Jones told him: "This is not the first incident of violent behaviour by you.
"It wasn't you that started the confrontation between your partner and the taxi driver.
"Nevertheless you did become involved.
"You made a very serious error of judgment. You struck him causing minor injury to his mouth. You were abusive to him.
"The courts have to deal with a number of cases where vulnerable taxi drivers late at night are assaulted, abused or both. This is another incident and you weren't even in the taxi."
15 Comments
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by katie, biddulph
Monday, January 11 2010, 10:20AM
“i agree with every1 but silly lisa..ur as bad as them!! the lad works all hours god sends and actually very rarelly drinks as hes always out working,playing football or spending time with his family!! the true facts are that the police didnt get statemants off the other two people that were there and witnessed the whole incident even though they said they wanted to give statements!! also that he actually wanted 40 extra after been given 20 (the agreed price) for a 5 mile journey!! then to carry on threatenin the girl she ran into ring the police on doin so woke craig up!! he then said if he didnt get the money he was gettin his 'boys' down to smash all their windows!!! and yet the police wudnt come!! where is the justice in that for them...oh yeh i get it they have fork out 700 pound for tryin protectin themselves cuz the police failed them!! that taxi driver has probably done it many times before and knew exactly what he was doing cuz they no they r always defended by the 'british' so called law!! the sentinel want write all facts if they want publish something bout a case!!”
by anon, Hilderstone
Saturday, January 09 2010, 11:43PM
“If Lisa wants to start classing all as benefit scroungers and layabouts she should keep her comments to herself and read the facts correctly,or should we all believe that her abode "THE MEIR" are all drug dealers,and thieves,you stupid woman,”
by lindsay whittle, biddulph,stoke-on-trent
Friday, January 08 2010, 9:35PM
“reporter should stick to reporting childrens nativity plays and lisa luv ur watching far too much jeremy kyle luv”
by Gary, Tiz me again from here
Friday, January 08 2010, 6:56PM
“Good on you John from Biddulph, I hope you get a response mate, and thanks for giving us a few truths too mate!”
by Debbie, Biddulph
Friday, January 08 2010, 5:47PM
“Lisa from meir u r pathetic! U make a judgement on somebody who u don't know and maybe u should try reading the article again! He was in bed! He is employed so maybe he is not a drink loving benefit seeking lout that u say.pathetic”
by Alys, GILLOW HEATH
Friday, January 08 2010, 5:34PM
“Lisa, Please read my words, I am not a lout, I am a 65 yr old granny, re my prior comments, I stand by them fully, also why do say another typical youth on benefits, as this is totally untrue, he is a hard working man! Alys”
by jim, tunstall
Friday, January 08 2010, 5:06PM
“"The courts have to deal with a number of cases where vulnerable taxi drivers late at night are assaulted, abused or both.
isnt it the general public especially women that are being abused killed or robbed? it is when they are defended that the case goes to court. you have to be white to be accused of racial discrimination.
I was contacted by phone some months ago by an asian business and was threatened to be visited by the boys armed with machettes to cut me up for not paying for pizzas .I dont eat pizzas or have deliveries of any kind and this was totally out of the blue. I contacted the police who told me had they known i was not asian they would not have called to see me.
Islamification of the UK is fast approaching.
Alan, In Staffordshire you are perfectly right”
by Gary, Tiz me again
Friday, January 08 2010, 3:48PM
“Thanks for that Geoff, I stand (or should I say sit) corrected ;-)”
by stephen, norton
Friday, January 08 2010, 1:42PM
“here we go again a taxi driver wants more money again ??what if mr caddy did not come out would we be looking at another death or she fall out of my cab ???? again alls i can say is well done mr caddy but sorry for you trying to defend your family just wish poeple would wake up before there is no britan ????????????”
by Geoff, Ex Cop
Friday, January 08 2010, 1:02PM
“Gary, you are right about what you say, the last bit is wrong, It is the CPS a GOVT body who decide the charge, not the police”