Shropshire taxi driver tells of racist attack terror
A Shropshire taxi driver has spoken out about the terror of being a victim of racist abuse while at work.
Muhammad Ashraf, a driver for Diamond Cars, fell victim to verbal abuse and had his car damaged in the early hours of July 2 last year, while working in the Shifnal area.
His attacker, Shaun Williams, aged 28, of Briarwood Road, Brookside, Telford, was sentenced and fined a total of £500 at Telford Magistrates Court last Friday after being found guilty of racially aggravated criminal damage.
Mr Ashraf said: “I’m still not feeling safe working in and around the area, there is no security for me in the taxi. I believe the punishment should have been more severe.
“Taxi driving is my only source of income. I want to provide a good service to people and carry on my work in safety. People don’t want to mention anything to the police when things like this happen because they are scared of the consequences. I have gone back to work despite the incident.”
The incident took place on Aston Street, Shifnal, as Williams was walking out of the Winking Frog pub.
Williams started racial name calling after Mr Ashraf refused to let him in the car, because the taxi was being recalled for a different customer.
Scared
He later started kicking the vehicle, causing extensive damage to the a door handle.
Williams carried on despite his friends telling him to stop.
Mr Ashraf said: “I got out the vehicle to see what had happened to my rear car door at which point he came back over and pushed the right side of my face just above my right eye. I felt scared that he would do further harm if his friends had not taken him away.”
This is not the first time Mr Ashraf has experienced violence and criminal damage. He said his car has been broken into on four separate occasions while parked outside his home.
“I’ve had a bluetooth headset, paperwork and CDs stolen but the expensive bit is the damage to the vehicle," he said.
“I think the law needs to be changed, and we should be able to remove our taxi licence plate when my car is being used for private use. This would discourage people from targeting taxis.
“The cost of repairs are too small to be covered by my insurance excess, but it all adds up.”
