Knifeman who stabbed taxi driver jailed for seven years

4:23pm Friday 5th September 2008

Comments (3)   Have your say »

A man who repeatedly stabbed a terrified taxi driver has been jailed for seven years.

Steven Birch knifed cabbie Fahim Alefi seven times in a row over a fare.

The victim at first thought he had just been punched but realised he had been stabbed when he saw his shirt was soaked in blood.

He was taken to hospital where his wounds were stitched and taped up.

Birch, 30, of Rowan Avenue, Hove, ran off but later gave himself up to police, Hove Crown Court heard.

He denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent at his trial in January but was found guilty by a majority verdict and was sentenced yesterday. (fri) Richard Barton, prosecuting, said Mr Alefi’s cab was flagged down by Birch and his girlfriend outside The Grenadier pub, Hove, in the early hours of August 5, last year.

They asked to be taken to Brighton Marina but then diverted the taxi to the Concorde 2 nightclub on Madeira Drive.

Both got out without paying the £17.50 fare and walked away from the cab while making a mobile phone call.

When Mr Alefi challenged them they said they were calling a friend to come down with the money for him.

Birch became aggressive, punched Mr Alefi and they fell to the ground during a struggle.

He thought he was being punched during the struggle and again after he managed to get back to his feet.

Mr Barton said: "He saw that Birch had something sharp in his hand which was glinting in the light from a lamp-post.

"He looked down, saw his clothing was covered in blood and realised he had been stabbed."

Birch’s girlfriend had shouted him to stop the attack before he ran off leaving the taxi driver bleeding.

She was in tears and stayed with the victim until police arrived. Birch gave himself up the next day.

He has previous convictions for violence including hitting a man with a bottle and throwing a beer glass in a pub, the court heard.

Jonathan Edwards, defending, said Birch had heroin and drink addiction which affected his ability to control his temper.

Mr Edwards added: "He has written to Mr Alefi expressing his genuine remorse for what happened.

"He has been on remand for over a year since this happened and has done a great deal to address his drug and alcohol problems.

"He is now a reformed character compared with a year ago and wants to study for an Open University degree in arts and humanities in prison."

Judge Jonathan Simpkiss said: "You left Mr Alefi bleeding and ran away after a quite horrendous attack.

"It was a sustained attack not in duration but in the sense that it involved at least seven blows with a knife.

"Taxi drivers are vulnerable people who work alone to provide an important public service.

"You preyed on that vulnerability and used a weapon in what was a terrifying attack for Mr Alefi."