A taxi driver was attacked after refusing to let one of his passengers open a can of beer.
Brendan Cadden was warned this week he was lucky not to be jailed for his part in the “unsavoury” incident in East Kilbride.
Cadden, 34, of Draffen Tower, Motherwell, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting cabbie Mohammed Riaz in Churchill Avenue, East Kilbride.
Co-accused Christopher Downs, 37, of Avonhead, East Kilbride, had his not guilty plea to the charge accepted.
An allegation that one of the men had a knife was dropped.
The incident happened in April 2018. Fortunately, the driver suffered no significant injury.
Mr Riaz had picked up the two accused and another man.
At one point Cadden asked if it was ok to open a can, but the taxi driver said no.
Cadden asked if he could pull over for a minute to allow him to have a drink and again Mr Riaz refused.
The driver said he was going to the police station and he was then punched repeatedly and pulled by the clothing in an attempt to prevent him leaving the car.
Defence agent Kevin McCarron admitted Cadden’s criminal record was “extensive”, but stressed he has made progress recently and is doing well on a community payback order imposed in another case.
Mr McCarron added: “This incident was entirely unsavoury, but I suggest a custodial sentence would do more damage than good. It would interrupt his progress and result in him losing his job.
“He is determined this will be his last appearance in court. He does not want to come back here.”
Sheriff Douglas Brown placed Cadden under supervision for nine months and ordered him to do 180 hours of unpaid community work.
The sheriff told him: “Consider yourself fortunate that you are not getting custody.
“The court has to protect people who deal with members of the public, especially taxi drivers who are in a vulnerable position.”
Cadden was also ordered to pay Mr Riaz £400 compensation.
