Disabled taxi driver attacked by passengers in Sunderland

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 19:32 · Archive

A one-armed taxi driver was assaulted by two passengers who mocked his disability during a dispute over a booking change.

A one-armed taxi driver was attacked by two passengers in Sunderland in July 2024 after a dispute over a booking amendment. The passengers had requested a second drop-off location but were told they would need to add it through the app where they had made their initial booking. They responded with aggression, refusing to comply and hurling insults at the driver.

During the confrontation, one attacker made derogatory and discriminatory remarks about the driver's prosthetic arm, asking 'What are you going to do with that?' The driver exited the vehicle due to their behaviour, but the passengers followed him out. Violence then broke out: one assailant kicked his legs from under him, causing him to fall, whilst the other kicked and stamped on his head. Newcastle Crown Court heard the case in connection with the incident. One of the attackers, Drew Davidson, pleaded guilty on the basis that he stamped on the driver's hand but did not kick or stamp on his head while he was on the ground.

The assault had severe consequences for the victim, who lost his job, marriage and home following the attack. The driver believed he was going to die as the violence unfolded.

How it is being reported

• North East one-armed cabbie suffered 'despicable' attack by passengers who mocked his disabilityDrew Davidson, of Sunderland, and another man subjected the taxi driver to a horrendous attack during which he thought he would dieChronicleLive · 22 Oct, 18:57
• Disabled taxi driver was abused and assaulted by Sunderland passengersA taxi driver who uses a prosthetic arm lost his job, marriage and home after he came under violent attack from two passengers and his hand was stamped on.Sunderland Echo · 22 Oct, 14:49

In this story: Drew Davidson · Sunderland · Newcastle Crown Court

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem