A thug attacked a taxi driver with a whiskey bottle and left him with lacerations to his head after refusing to a pay his fare. He also threatened to smash the taxi up unless the driver gave him money.
Sami Meah, 35, wounded taxi driver Khair Mohammed on October 14 after taking him from Cardiff city centre to Splott. The attacker had got out of the car without paying and became violent when confronted by the victim.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard Meah had also attempted to rob another victim, James Savery, who he repeatedly punched in the face. Mr Savery was left with injuries to his face during the attack which took place outside his girlfriend's home.
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Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir said Mr Mohammed drove the defendant to Sanquahar Street at around 7.50pm, before directing him to Cumnock Place. He then got out of the car and walked off before knocking on a door. Meah then made his way towards some bollards at which point the victim also got out and followed him.
Meah asked: "Why are you following me?" and Mr Mohammed said he wanted his fare. The defendant responded: "Get the f*** back in your car or I'll knock you out". Mr Gobir said: "The defendant walked up to him looking angry and aggressive and punched him to his left eye with his right fist.
"He reached in a plastic bag, pulled out a bottle with his right hand and immediately swung the bottle to the side of his head. (Mr Mohammed) raised his left arm to defend himself but unfortunately for him the bottle still hit him to the left side of his head and smashed."
Mr Mohammed felt alcohol pouring over him and suffered multiple lacerations to his head and neck. Meah then grabbed a second bottle and tried to open the drivers' side door of the taxi, before climbing onto the bonnet. He said: "Give me your money or I'll smash the car up." The victim called the police and Meah was later arrested and identified.
In a victim personal statement, Mr Mohammed said: "Immediately after the incident I felt extremely scared. I was in a ridiculous amount of pain to my neck and head. I noticed how much blood there was and was getting more and more scared. I got wipes and when I saw the whole tissue covered in blood I realised how bad it was. I was in complete shock."
"I felt so dizzy and I believe I passed out, I felt like I couldn't breathe. It was the most frightening thing I have ever experienced. If the man had just said he didn't have the money to pay I would have let him go." The victim said he had not yet returned to taxi driving as he "couldn't face going back to work".
Mr Gobir also told the court about the attempted robbery at 12.30am on October 5. Mr Savery was walking along Splott Road with a Nike rucksack, two pillows in carrier bags and was wearing headphones. As he approached Walker Street, he stopped to light a cigarette when Meah approached and picked up his rucksack.
Mr Savery grabbed the rucksack back and said "It's my stuff" but the defendant responded: "No, that's my stuff." The victim put the rucksack on his shoulder when Meah punched him to the left side of his head. Mr Savery attempted to run away but stumbled and fell to the floor. The defendant then punched Mr Savery three times to the face and he felt teeth falling out of his mouth.
He managed to get to his feet and ran to his girlfriend's house. Meah continued to punch him and said: "Give me your phone, give me my phone." As the assault continued, Mr Savery's girlfriend opened the door and the victim ran in before shutting the door and calling the police as Meah kicked the door.
Meah was arrested and police discovered blood splatter outside the property. Mr Savery went to hospital where he received treatment for swelling, a wound to his left eyebrow, bruises to his eye socket, abrasions to his lip and two fractured teeth.
In a victim personal statement, Mr Savery said: "This ordeal has affected me physically, my face after the assault was black and blue. I was swollen so much that when I went outside people would stare at me. The pain lasted for over a week, I didn't have a broken nose but I felt numb and I now have a gap in my teeth."
Meah, of no fixed abode, later pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and attempted robbery. The court heard he had 28 previous convictions, including offences of violence and robbery for which he was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment.
In mitigation, the court heard the defendant was homeless and was addicted to alcohol, heroin and crack cocaine. Defence barrister David Rees described his client's actions as "thuggery and wanton violence" but suggested his guilty plea was an indication of remorse.
Recorder Greg Bull KC sentenced Meah to six years imprisonment, with an extended four years on licence. He will serve two thirds of the custodial sentence before he is considered for parole.
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