Two jailed for racially assaulting taxi driver with bottles after boarding wrong cab

Two men have been sentenced for a racist attack on a taxi driver following a night out in Newcastle. Former soldier Stephen Reay and his friend Thomas Robinson pleaded guilty to racially aggravated common assault and racially aggravated criminal damage following an incident on 7 September 2016.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the pair had ordered a taxi to pick them up from the city's West End district, but ended up boarding a car from the same company which was not meant for them.

When the driver told them he could not take them home, they proceeded to hurl racist abuse at him before throwing bottles and assaulting him.

The pair even continued to shout racist abuse at the victim even after the police arrived.

The court heard how the driver was left with injuries to his face and head following the attack, as well as £2,500 worth of damage to his car.

As a result, the victim was forced to take time off work, pay £500 excess insurance, lose his no claims discount and have his premiums increased by £800, reports the Chronicle Live.

Reay and Robinson, both 22, have now been sentenced to 25 weeks in jail after admitting the racially aggravated charges.

Reay's lawyer, Jeff Taylor, said his client had expressed regret over the incident. He said: "He accepts his joint responsibility and accepts the overall incident was the two of them acting together.

"He now very much regrets what happened on that day. He wishes he had taken his advice and booked another taxi."