A 31-YEAR-OLD woman who had been attending a works Christmas ‘do’ punched a taxi driver in the face and damaged his vehicle during a dispute over bookings.

Blackburn magistrates heard Julie Ann Allen claimed she had booked her taxi six weeks in advance and was angry when a car from the same firm collected another fare from the Sparth House in Clayton-le-Moors.

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Allen, of Tockholes Road, Darwen, pleaded guilty to assaulting Rajarabnawaz Khan and damaging a wing mirror and door panel of his car.

She was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £330, £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge.

Enza Geldard, prosecuting, said Mr Khan arrived at Sparth House to collect a fare at about 1 am.

He was approached by Allen who started swearing at him, complaining she had booked a taxi six weeks earlier.

“The passengers who had booked Mr Khan’s taxi got in and at that point she punched the driver through his open window, kicked the door panel and pulled the wing mirror off,” said Mrs Geldard. “The driver says he was shocked by the incident.”

Imran Hussain, defending, said his client was horrified by her behaviour which was totally out of character. “She deeply regrets what happened,” said Mr Hussain. “In a moment of madness she lost her self control and struck out.”