Vile Scotswood lout spat in taxi driver's face after being refused lift home
by Sara Nichol · ChronicleLiveA disgusting lout spat in a taxi driver's face after he was refused a lift home.
David Lye approached the cabbie while he was sat in his vehicle in Newcastle City Centre but saw red when he was told he couldn't take fares off the street. A court heard that the 62-year-old spat through the open driver's window and into the victim's face, while shouting abuse.
Lye, of Shafto Street, in Scotswood, then threatened the taxi driver, who had got out his car, with one of his crutches before the police were flagged down and he was arrested. The thug has now been ordered to pay the victim £200 in compensation after he appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court to plead guilty to assault by beating.
Prosecutor, Clare Irving, said the cabbie was sat in his car on Clayton Street on August 27 this year when he was approached by Lye. Ms Irving added: "The injured party has lowered his window down to speak to him.
"The defendant argued about the injured party not taking him in his taxi but the driver explained he was private hire. The defendant has then spat in his face.
"The injured party got out the car and the defendant lifted a crutch and told him to get back in the car or he would hit him with the crutch. The injured party has then flagged down a police officer."
In a statement, the victim said: "This incident left me angry and frustrated. I have lost income due to not being able to take fares while reporting this incident to the police."
The court heard that Lye had numerous offences on his record, including for violence, but they had recently been mainly related to theft. Andy O'Hanlon, defending, said Lye had also recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.
Mr O'Hanlon continued: "He was homeless but he's now in accommodation through Shelter. He's also got osteoporosis."
Sentencing him, District Judge Paul Currer told Lye: "You spat in his face through a window - that's an appalling, truly awful and terrible thing to do."
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