Young Plymouth boxer punched taxi driver who smiled at girlfriend
A TALENTED amateur boxer punched a taxi driver after the cabbie smiled at his girlfriend, a court heard.
Ryan Hart struck the man because he thought he was looking at his girlfriend in the back of the car, Plymouth Crown Court was told.
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Hart is one of the city's best amateur fighters – and travels across the country to take part in national events.
He was given a community order with unpaid work.
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The 22-year-old, of Headland Park, in Greenbank, admitted the common assault of Martin Juren on August 5 last year. He also admitted making off without paying the £4.50 fare.
Alistair Verheijen, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the Taxifirst driver picked up Headland and the woman near the city centre branch of Sainsbury's.
He added Mr Juren drove to Headland Park, clocking up a fare of £4.60.
Mr Verheijen said he in fact smiled at the couple and said he would only charge £4.50.
He added: "Rather than be grateful, the defendant started to have a go at the driver and accused him on four different occasions of smiling at his girlfriend."
Mr Verheijen said Mr Juren said he "meant nothing by it", but Hart refused to pay the fare and got out of the car.
He added the driver followed him, the pair argued and squared up.
Mr Verheijen said Hart punched him to the face, causing him pain but no injury.
The court heard he told police he was drunk at the time.
Kelly Scrivener, for Hart, said he was a talented amateur boxer who coached youngsters and travelled to tournaments all over the country.
She said: "He accepts his behaviour was out of order. He acted out of character. He was with an attractive woman and thought the driver was looking at her."
Hart, a member of the Mayflower Club, has in the past reached the quarter finals of the national Amateur Boxing Association championships. He has also been invited to attend England trials.
Recorder Richard Davison gave him a 12-month community order with 80 hours unpaid work.
He was ordered to pay Mr Juren £250 compensation for the assault and £4.50 for the lost fare.
21 Comments
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by fazer58
Sunday, January 27 2013, 1:28PM
“He only paid the £4.50 the Cabbie offered as a discounted fare by way of compensation not the £4.60 it should have been.Small thing I know but yet another **** take by the Judiciary.
What a pathetic little man you are Ryan.”
by theparcel
Sunday, January 27 2013, 12:48AM
“He also admitted making off without paying the £4.50 fare.
That's the real reason!
He didn't wanna pay his fare!”
by Plymouthlad63
Saturday, January 26 2013, 9:59PM
“What a clown....maybe he had a coke to many and could not hold his drink”
by DoctorDo
Saturday, January 26 2013, 5:20PM
“Women need to steer clear of this bloke.
Even if he doesn't have a career as a boxer I'm sure he'll have one as a wife beater. After all, he's proven that he has jealousy issues.”
by mcspredder
Saturday, January 26 2013, 3:57PM
“If you can't control your aggression in the ring, you'll get flattened”
by plymyoung1
Saturday, January 26 2013, 2:57PM
“why is it people who commit crimes yet do something for there community get away with a lighter punishment? If i did that i'd get banged up and the judge would make an example of me”
by janner843
Saturday, January 26 2013, 12:37PM
“he got away with it. i would have throw the book at the ginger to@@er”
by chipbatch
Saturday, January 26 2013, 11:54AM
“What a plank”
by newjanner
Saturday, January 26 2013, 11:30AM
“and no doubt coaches will say boxing gives kids discipline in this case it just gives a thug better tools to use on people”
by CharlieDodd
Saturday, January 26 2013, 10:14AM
“..'He accused him on four different occasions of smiling at his girlfriend'..
Cheer up mate, at least he weren't smiling and winking at you”