Latest news with #taxidriver
CNA
13 hours ago
- General
- CNA
Jail for man who punched taxi driver for overtaking him
SINGAPORE: Angry after a taxi driver overtook him, a man alighted from his car to confront the driver at a traffic junction. During the argument, Silas Yu Ming'En reached through the 66-year-old taxi driver's window to unbuckle his seatbelt, tried to force open the door, and threw punches at him. The 41-year-old Singaporean was jailed for five days on Thursday (Jun 5). He was also fined S$2,500 (US$1,900) for another incident in which he got into a dispute with a man who told him not to be rude. He pleaded guilty to two counts of voluntarily causing hurt, with one count of using threatening behaviour taken into consideration for his sentencing. On Apr 9, 2024, the taxi driver was driving along Choa Chu Kang North 5 when he came to a stop behind Yu at a traffic junction. After the traffic light turned green, the taxi driver overtook Yu as he found Yu to be slow. When the cars came to another halt, this time at the traffic junction of Choa Chu Kang North 5 and Choa Chu Kang Street 53, Yu alighted from his car to approach the taxi driver. The taxi driver lowered his window after Yu knocked on it, and a heated verbal argument ensued. He then demanded that the taxi driver get out of his vehicle. When the latter refused, Yu tried to force open the door. Yu then reached through the open window in an attempt to unfasten the victim's seat belt, and threw punches at the victim, who bled from his right arm as a result. The victim was examined at a polyclinic later that day and was found to have a superficial abrasion on his right arm. SECOND INCIDENT Separately, on Dec 29, 2024, Yu was at a food court in Bukit Panjang Plaza when he brushed past a 30-year-old man while saying "excuse me". Perceiving his behaviour to be rude and inappropriate, the victim tapped Yu on the shoulder and said: "Can you don't be so rude?' He then left. But Yu confronted the victim and pushed him twice on the chest, causing the victim to hit his lower back against a pillar. Although the man tried to put some distance between Yu and himself, Yu continued to pursue him. The victim pushed Yu back before members of the public intervened. The victim sustained a bruise on his lower back from the incident. Yu offered to pay restitution to both victims, but the taxi driver was unable to quantify his medical expenses. Meanwhile, Yu compensated the other victim about S$160. Reading from a letter in court, Yu, who did not have a lawyer, apologised for his behaviour and said he took full responsibility. "I deeply regret any harm caused," Yu said, adding that he would learn from the experience and would not repeat such behaviour.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Shock moment drunk Fiat 500 driver smashes into car and flips over during dangerous overtake on quiet residential street
WATCH the moment a Fiat 500 goes airborne after a drunk driver attempts a "reckless" overtake on a quiet street. The black car dramatically flips on its side after colliding with two vehicles on either side of the road in Port Talbot, south Wales. 7 7 7 The driver was left sandwiched between the cars after attempting to overtake near speed bumps. It stops momentarily before flipping back upright and zooming off down the road. The impact forces a silver Ford heading in the same direction onto the pavement, where it "miraculously" avoids hitting a child. It also caused the vehicle to smash head-on into a garden wall. A taxi driver, who was travelling in a white Skoda towards the Fiat 500, later attended hospital for the injuries he sustained during the crash. Local residents can be seen filming the drunk driver before he speeds off from the scene. Driver Danail Angelov was jailed for 14 months after the horror smash. The 20-year-old, from Swansea, pleaded guilty to a number of driving offences including drink driving. 7 7 7 7 He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle-taking, failing to stop after a road accident, drink driving and driving without a license. Sgt Robert Richards of South Wales Police blasted the youngster for his "dangerous actions". He fumed: 'Danail Angelov could have injured a number of people with his reckless and dangerous actions. "The taxi driver, who was just going about his daily business, had to attend hospital to be inspected for whiplash and concussion. 'There was also a child pedestrian walking on the pavement at the time of the collision, and it is a miracle that one of the three vehicles didn't end up striking them and causing them serious injury. 'The fact that he then drove off from the scene is a sad indictment of his character. 'It is only right that he goes to prison.'
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Irish Times
Man who was part of gang who hijacked taxi in Cork jailed for four years
A father of five who was part of a group of men who hijacked a taxi in Cork, threatened its 75-year-old driver with a knife and bundled him out of the vehicle has been jailed for four years. Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard the taxi driver believed he was 'going to die' on the evening of January 26th, 2024, when he was subjected to the 'terrifying' ordeal. One of the three men who got into his taxi in the city put a knife up to his face and neck and threatened him. He was subsequently thrown out of the vehicle at Monard in Rathpeacon, Co Cork. Judge Helen Boyle said Anthony Hornibrook (39) was one of three men who had caused considerable trauma to the taxi driver. READ MORE She told Mr Hornibrook (39) she had viewed the 'terrifying' dashcam footage of what had occurred. Judge Boyle described the taxi driver as a 'brave man' who had never experienced an incident of this kind in 35 years of driving taxis in Cork. The taxi driver told her the assault on him was 'life-changing' and that the 'trauma' of the incident would never leave him. He said the men had stolen his livelihood and he was 'not the same person'. He said he was extremely grateful to the people who came to his assistance when he was injured after having been bundled out of his vehicle. He said that in addition to the trauma suffered, the men 'stole his livelihood' and caused him a financial burden. Mr Hornibrook, of Killala Gardens, Knocknaheeny, Cork, previously pleaded guilty to a number of charges in relation to the incident. Mr Hornibrook also pleaded guilty to four shoplifting offences, all of which occurred between January 20th and 30th, 2024. He stole goods totalling €370 from Blarney Woollen Mills, worth €925 from JD Sports in Mahon Point, €378 from Dunnes in Merchant's Quay and €390 from Tommy Hilfiger in Cork city. The court heard the thefts occurred as part of a '10-day spree' which the accused undertook to pay for drugs. Judge Boyle was told Mr Hornibrook was now drug-free and doing well in prison. She jailed him for four and a half years, suspending the final six months of the sentence. She also disqualified Mr Hornibrook from driving for a period of seven years.
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Irish Times
Woman who set neighbour's car on fire sentenced to year in prison
A woman who set her neighbour's car on fire after googling how to make an improvised pipe bomb has been jailed for a year. Tammy O'Connor (29) with an address at Craigie Court, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to charges of criminal damage, arson and theft at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard the injured party, who works as a taxi driver, went to his car to start work at 1.30am on July 4th, 2023 when he noticed the front passenger window had been smashed and the rear tyres slashed. The coin tray containing €100 and a dash cam had been taken and €300 worth of damage caused. READ MORE Two weeks later on July 28th, 2023, the injured party was at home when he heard the apartment block's fire alarm go off. He ran outside and saw smoke coming from the underground car park. He recognised a car alarm going off as his own. He saw the passenger side window of his car had been smashed and the interior was on fire. Dublin Fire Brigade and the gardaí were called. The car had to be written off. CCTV from both dates was obtained by gardaí, and O'Connor was identified from the footage. The injured party indicated to gardaí there had been issues between them and he had had to report her to the housing authority. When arrested, O'Connor made full admissions. She said something had come into her head that day, and she googled how to make a homemade pipe bomb. She admitted to smashing the window and throwing the improvised device into the car. She told gardaí she had received an eviction notice from the housing authority following the complaint made by the injured party. O'Connor has 16 previous convictions, all District Court matters, including for public order offences and theft. The investigating garda agreed with Mark McMahon BL, defending, that O'Connor told gardaí she was under stress and wasn't thinking clearly after receiving the eviction notice. It was further accepted that O'Connor has addiction issues and mental health difficulties. The garda also agreed that a letter of apology had been given to the injured party. Reading his victim impact statement to the court, the injured party said he had 'looked after' O'Connor and her family after they moved, providing them with food and furniture. He said he helped them, but one night he heard his front door being kicked and when he went out, it was O'Connor. He said when O'Connor was drunk, she was kicking and banging on his door. He asked her not to do it outside his door, but then had to contact the housing authority. He said double locks and panic alarms were installed in his property, along with CCTV on his balcony in the wake of the incidents but said he worried for his partner while he was at work. The injured party said he faced losses to replace the car and equipment. Mr McMahon outlined his client's background to the court. O'Connor has mental health difficulties, including depression and anxiety when she was a teenager, which led her down the path of addiction. Counsel said O'Connor spent time in hospital due to drug-induced psychosis. Mr McMahon said O'Connor is extremely remorseful and apologetic, but is not in a financial position to offer compensation. She has one child and is doing well in custody. Sentencing O'Connor on Monday Judge Elva Duffy said O'Connor had a limited capacity to understand the 'potentially hugely serious consequences of her actions' referring to the fact that the fire was set in the carpark of an apartment building. Judge Duffy accepted that O'Connor was 'open and honest' about her situation and further accepted that she is willing to engage with the Probation Service. 'She is vulnerable but the issues before the court are serious,' Judge Duffy said before she sentenced O'Connor to two and half years in prison. She suspended the final 18 months of the term on strict conditions including that she engage with the Probation Service for 18 months upon her ultimate release from prison.
CNA
26-05-2025
- CNA
Jail for man who attacked taxi driver over collision in Hougang car park
SINGAPORE: Furious after a taxi collided into his personal mobility aid, a man charged at the driver with a knife at an open-air car park in Hougang. Even after he was disarmed, an undeterred Soo Ah Seng walked to the back of a coffee shop and picked up a mop to use it to attack the taxi driver. Soo, 67, was jailed for two months' on Monday (May 26), after pleading guilty to one count each of causing hurt and criminal intimidation. Two other charges, relating to Soo using profanities on the taxi driver and committing affray, were considered for his sentencing. Soo appeared in court with a walking frame to help him get around. His scuffle with the taxi driver was caught on video and uploaded onto social media. COLLISION IN CAR PARK On Aug 1, 2023, the victim, a 65-year-old man, dropped off a passenger at a sheltered point at Block 307, Hougang Avenue 5. As he reversed into a parking lot to leave the car park, he collided with Soo, who was on his personal mobility aid (PMA) near the rear of the taxi. Soo fell off his PMA. The victim immediately alighted to help and apologise to Soo, but Soo began hurling vulgarities. When the victim offered compensation, Soo demanded S$2,000 (US1,560) but halved the sum when the victim said he was a mere taxi driver who could not afford the amount. The victim suggested to help repair the PMA but Soo refused the offer and continued to scold him. An altercation ensued, during which Soo took a knife that had fallen out from his PMA to charge at the victim. After Soo was restrained and disarmed by a member of the public, he walked to the back of a coffee shop nearby and picked up a mop. He swung the mop at the victim, hitting his left shoulder a few times. The victim's car camera captured what happened. The victim suffered pain and abrasions on his body as a result. Several members of the public intervened and a town council officer called the police. The victim sought medical attention and was found to have a fracture on his right hand, sustained from punching a person. For criminal intimidation, an offender could be jailed up to two years, or fined, or both.
