Restaurant manager told cabbie to call him 'sir' before beating him
A PLYMOUTH restaurant manager and former professional rugby player beat a taxi driver after asking the cabbie to call him "Sir".
Edward Steven, 23, of Holbeton, was found guilty of assault by beating yesterday at Plymouth Magistrates' Court.
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Edward Steven
The Glassblowing House Restaurant manager appeared alongside James Pool, 20, of Ash Grove, Ivybridge, who was found guilty of a Section 4 offence after using words and behaviour that caused fear of violence.
The court was told the two men and a friend got into a taxi on North Hill at about 4am after a night out in January.
When the driver realised that his passengers had food, he asked them to leave his vehicle, the court was told.
Two of the men left but Steven refused, requesting that he should say "please" and "pretty please" and be addressed as "Sir", the court was told.
One witness told the court: "The man told the driver 'Say please, say pretty please', the driver said 'Look, I'll say whatever you want me to say', but he still wouldn't get out."
The taxi driver then physically forced Steven from the vehicle, leaving him lying in the road, the court was told.
An altercation then ensued during which the taxi driver sustained a black eye and Steven a split lip, it was said in court.
A partially disabled fellow taxi driver intervened.
He told the court: "I told them I'm disabled, I do not want any trouble. We're not punch-bags."
He said that Pool then turned around and said he didn't care if he was disabled and that they should be left to fight one-on-one.
The defence claimed that Steven had acted in self-defence after being intimidated.
He said that the taxi driver was clearly angry about the food in his cab and had stood over Steven as he lay in the road, causing him to hit out.
When questioned in court, the driver admitted that he had stood over Steven and pushed him back down because he "wanted to be in control of the situation while he waited for the police".
The court was told that the police had been phoned during the incident but only showed up later after the taxi driver called himself.
Summing up, District Judge Paul Farmer said: "He asked them to leave and he did not. What happened after is entirely down to the attitude of Mr Steven not to get out.
"It was also reported on a number of occasions that he would not leave unless he was asked to say please and called Sir. This was never disputed."
He added that what he saw of Mr Steven in court was that "butter wouldn't melt in his mouth".
But he added: "On that night, this was not the case, probably because of drink."
Steven was handed an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 compensation and £620 towards costs.
Pool was handed a 12-month discharge and an order to pay £300 towards costs.
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by Jesse, On a Boat (Mutley)
Saturday, August 07 2010, 1:06AM
“Couldn't weights to get back from Zaragoza with gym to comment on this.
Classics! A scrap like this to get front page, C.Clarke scored a cracker from long range! I regularly engage in a tussle of an evening spent down on that north hill and frequently a minor scrape is suffice to remedy any ongoing counter predicament.
Is the cabbie all at emma? I'm not sure which side to be on here as I love a bit of rugby, knock-on!”
by Yerv Ago, Mutley
Saturday, August 07 2010, 1:00AM
“Read this paper in Spain on holiday with gym, couldn't weights to get back from Zaragoza and add my comment.
Classics! Something like this gets front page, this guy just got in a bit of a scrap and now ends up in a mess. I regularly engage in tussles of a night out down that north hill and a short scuffle is usually suffice to remedy an ongoing counter predicament. I recently saw C.Clarke smash one in from long range, loved that!
Not sure about the cabbie, was he emma? Potentially a difficult one to take a side, although I love a good scrum, knock-on!”
by Gary, plymouth
Saturday, August 07 2010, 12:54AM
“To the people that are having a go at this guy- you weren't there and you have no real idea of what actually went on. And so what that this guy went to a private school, that makes him a better person. Stuart and Emma, sounds like a hint of jealousy”
by Emma, Plymouth
Monday, August 02 2010, 3:07PM
“No sympathy for the son of John Stevens.
And GOM, Plymouth, I worked at the Glassblowing House and during John Steven's money issues, he paid none of his staff and then threatened to lay us off if we didnt continue to work, essentially for free. So there are far more important things than the food standard at the Glassblowing House.”
by Mick, Barbican
Friday, July 30 2010, 7:39PM
“Quote- "The taxi driver then physically forced Steven from the vehicle"
Bad move, that's technically an assault and the passenger could call the cops, then in court he'd pick up a nice bit of compensation..;)”
by Jane, Plymouth
Friday, July 30 2010, 6:49PM
“"Never had that problem with the polish drivers who seem to be polite and helpful (all be it they rely on sat nav but they get you home). "
steve, plymstock
Actually Steve,
I have had a Polish driver, and whilst polite, I ended up paying DOUBLE what I usually pay. They are the firm I use regularly so know exactly the rough price within a pound or two. The guy used the sat nav, and kept messing up so it kept 'recalculating' itself each time. When I reached my destination I said I wasnt happy about the price and he knocked a small amount off but would not go lower. I argued he could check with the office, but he wouldn't. If he had done I am certain they would have told him it was ludicrous to charge me so much extra when it was his error. As I said, he was polite, but that doesn't make up for incompetence. He asked if I would direct him or he would use sat nav. He seemed to expect me to know the route (I dont as they all go various ways which are pretty similar distance wise) and when i didnt, and i told him i was happy for him to find the shortest route via sat nav, he then was incapable of doing what the voice told him! What a waste of money.
As for Taxi fast, I once booked a taxi with them for 2am, it didnt turn up - i called and was told it hadnt been booked (it had - obviously an admin error), and they would send another. I called twice more, each time told it was running late. Eventually I gave up and made my own way home. (Not good for an 18 year old girl, albeit with my brother and friend)”
by Mandy, Plymouth
Friday, July 30 2010, 5:58PM
“I cannot believe the Herald. Why do they have to publish something like this on the front page. Things like this, sadly, happen quite a lot of times but I¿ve never seen any of those on the front page. Is there a hidden agenda here? Perhaps something more serious like the man charged with grooming a 13 year old girl for sex would have been a better choice for front page.
The taxi driver doesn¿t seem to be all that innocent either. The driver had been convicted of ABH himself a few years ago. He even admitted to pushing Mr Steven to the floor and standing over him. This itself is intimidation.
I don¿t know about boycotting the restaurant as it has been suggested, I¿m more inclined to boycotting the Herald.”
by Stuart, Plymouth
Friday, July 30 2010, 5:54PM
“Ah well one of lifes lessons, posh boys who are a bit squiffy shouldn't get fresh with taxi drivers who deal with bootneck, matloes and hen parties on a nightly basis.”
by GOM, Plymouth
Friday, July 30 2010, 5:10PM
“What difference does it make who his father is? Totally irrelevant trend developing here.
The whole thing sounds like a 50/50 situation to me.
Anyway, the important issue here is that the food remains of a good standard at the Glassblowing House.”
by Mick, Barbican
Friday, July 30 2010, 4:22PM
“All taxis could have a small sticker on the window saying-"Sorry, no eating, drinking or smoking in this cab" which would give them some backup when asking a passenger to get out.
Also, cabbies could refuse to let anybody get in in the first place if they're carrying opened food, booze or are smoking or look drunk.”