Taxi driver's attacker spared jail

6:10pm Saturday 25th October 2008

A drunken lout who attacked a taxi driver and told him he looked like terrorist leader Osama bin Laden has escaped being sent straight to jail.

Justin Pope, 30, racially abused the cabbie after a drunken night out in Crawley.

Safraz Khawaja was left battered and bruised after Pope assaulted him on February 24.

Mr Khawaja picked Pope and his brother Jamie up from the town's Greyhound pub in the early hours.

He drove them back to Pope's home in Treyford Close, Ifield, Crawley, where there was a dispute over the fare.

Pope ordered Mr Khawaja out of his cab, shouting: "You look like bin Laden, come out and fight."

He later admitted racially harassing the taxi driver but was found guilty of assault after a trial at Lewes Crown Court last month.

He was cleared of failing to pay the fare and stealing a jacket and a trainer from the victim.

Pope was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years when he appeared at Hove Crown Court for sentence yesterday.

He was also ordered to pay his victim £650 compensation and must do 160 hours unpaid community work.

His partner, who is due to have their child in two weeks, broke down in tears as the sentence was announced.

Stephen Hadley, defending, said: "He accepts this was a very unpleasant assault committed against a man carrying out his work at night.

"It was a drunken incident which he very much regrets."

Judge Charles Kemp told Pope: "Your behaviour towards that taxi driver was violent, boorish and frankly, towards a person who plies his trade on behalf of the public at night, disgraceful.

"He was hurt physically, was unable to work for two weeks afterwards and understandably he and his wife expressed concern about him returning to work at night.

"Why should a taxi driver be treated like that by a drunken lout, which is clearly what you were that night?"