Suspended sentence for man who assaulted Muslim cabbie in Portsmouth

The Portsmouth News reports on the sentencing of a man who racially abused and assaulted a taxi driver over a dispute about a travel route.

Peter Saville, 61, was picked up by Aqua Cars driver, Abdulerhman Eltahir, outside a pub on 27 September 2015. Saville paid the driver £5.00 in advance but when he disputed the route taken by Mr Eltahir, the cab returned to where Saville had been collected.

Saville and the driver exchanged words and Saville demanded Eltahir return him his £5.00. Saville then punched the minicab driver to the back of the head, got out into the front and punched Mr Eltahir to the face causing a cut. Portsmouth Crown Court heard that Saville hit Mr Eltahir so hard the wound took “three days to heal after the assault”.

When Mr Eltahir got out of the car, Saville ran off stealing £20 in coins from the car.

Police caught up with Saville and arrested him on suspicion of assault. Body worn cameras showed Saville suggest to officers that the driver had hit him first and he had hit him back.

Saville pleaded guilty to common assault, theft and causing racially-aggravated harassment, alarm or distress at Portsmouth Crown Court. The court heard Saville had 61 previous convictions for 146 offences.

Sentencing Saville, Judge Ian Pearson told him “You assaulted and stole from a taxi driver having racially abused him. You were very drunk at the time. I hope you take the chance that’s been offered to you, as you know what’s going to happen if you don’t.”

He handed Saville 18 weeks’ imprisonment for the assault, 14 weeks’ imprisonment for the public order offence and 20 weeks’ imprisonment for the theft. The 52 weeks’ sentence was suspended for two years. Saville was ordered to complete a six-month alcohol treatment requirement and 10 days of rehabilitation activities. He must also pay £200 compensation to the victim.