Haslingden teenager jailed for vicious attack on taxi driver (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Haslingden teenager jailed for vicious attack on taxi driver

9:35am Tuesday 29th November 2011 in Rawtenstall By Wendy Barlow, Court reporter

A WOULD-be robber who beat up and seriously injured a Rawtenstall cabbie has been locked up for two and a half years.

Drunken Connor Regan, 19, left Mohammed Khan, 51, with a smashed ankle, needing major surgery and facial injuries.

During the incident which happened in the early hours of July 17, Regan dragged the driver from his vehicle, punched him to the ground and repeatedly kicked him, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Regan had had 15 pints of lager and some vodka before he struck, telling his friends he was going to rob the victim.

He sobbed in the dock as a judge said he accepted his actions had been out of character, but taxi drivers had to be protected by the courts.

The defendant, of Warburton's Buildings, Haslingden, had admitted attempted robbery and inflicting grievous bodily harm and was sent to a young offenders’ institution.

Adam Watkins, prosecuting, said the assault took place at the back of Rawtenstall bus station.

Regan, who was with four men, asked Mr Khan to take him to Bacup and told his friends: “I'm going to jack this taxi.”

The defendant began to shout at the victim, asking where the money was and tried to remove the ignition key.

He then dragged Mr Khan from the driver's seat, knocked him to the ground and kicked and punched him.

Mr Watkins said a witness ran over to intervene and other taxi drivers arrived.

Mr Khan was taken to Fairfield Hospital, Bury, where he was found to have cuts and bruises to his hands and face, he was bleeding from his face and his eye was closed. He had suffered a broken ankle and underwent an operation to have the fracture fixed using a metal plate and screws the day after.

The hearing was told Mr Khan was in hospital six days, was unable to use the stairs for three months, was now still on crutches, limping, using painkillers and had to have physiotherapy.

He was not able to work, had to sell his taxi to support himself and was prescribed sleeping tablets because of anxiety after his ordeal.