Charity boss and partner both fined after attacking Muslim taxi driver during ride home

Local West Midlands paper Express and Star report on a couple who were found guilty of racially harassing and attacking a Muslim taxi driver during a ride home last October.

Susan Dimmock, a 52- year-old charity boss from Cannock, abused Mudassar Ali when he drove her home on the night of 31 October 2016.

Dimmock, deputy chief executive of the Walsall-based charity Steps to Work, denied a charge of racially aggravated harassment but was found guilty by magistrates last Thursday. She was fined £623, ordered to pay court costs of £362 and a victim surcharge of £30.

Andrew Dimmock, 50, was found guilty of assault and criminal damage by magistrates. He was alleged to have grabbed Mr Ali’s radio equipment and broken his Bluetooth device following a conversation between the driver and the couple. He was also said to have ripped Mr Ali’s display license.

Mr Dimmock was fined £173, ordered to pay court costs of £362, a £30 victim surcharge and £25 compensation.

Chief executive of the Steps to Work charity, James Walsh, said, “As the chief executive officer of Steps to Work I can assure you that we are conducting an internal investigation into this matter.”

The local paper notes that the Dimmocks were unavailable for comment.