A 62-year-old taxi driver claims he has been denied justice after police refused to press charges over an alleged attack in which he was “viciously assaulted” by a passenger.
Mohammed Aslam says the attack took place outside Bolton police station in Scholey Street after he drove a passenger there because he was behaving aggressively.
The veteran Metro driver had to go to hospital with cuts and bruises on his face after the incident on October 15.
Police have now informed Mr Aslam that there will be no further action in the case because of a “conflict” between the accounts of those involved.
He has now complained to Greater Manchester Police, as well as the region’s crime commissioner and local councillors, in his bid for justice.
Mr Aslam said: “It appears that the investigating officer is not pressing charges because he believes the perpetrator acted in self-defence, but this is ridiculous — I am a frail 62-year-old man who cannot physically attack anyone.”
He said he picked up the male customer, thought to be in his twenties, along with another man from an address in Tonge Fold just before 7pm.
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He said he had not realised at the time that the passengers wanted to be taken into Manchester and that when he went past the turn off for St Peter’s Way, the younger man became aggressive and started shouting.
He said: “He was swearing a lot and saying racist remarks to me. He was very aggressive so I pulled in and told him to get out.”
“The men wouldn’t get out so I drove them to the police station in Scholey Street.”
Once in Scholey Street, the 62-year-old alleges that the younger man got out and forcefully kicked his car, prompting the driver to get out of the taxi.
“I shouted at him because he kicked the car and that is when he punched me hard in the eye — he followed this with four or five more punches to my head.
“He kicked me and pushed me again but then two police officers came running to help because I think officers inside the station had contacted them on the radio.”
Mr Aslam admits that he grabbed the customer by his shirt to stop him running from the police but said that was the only point at which he touched him.
He then went to hospital and the man was apprehended by police, but Mr Aslam said he never heard back from them regarding charges.
He said: “Three weeks later I asked my nephew to contact them and he said they would not be taking any action — I felt terrible and I couldn’t believe it.
“This man viciously beat me up and he should be punished.
“What upsets me the most is that he had no regard for my age — I am a frail man with a white beard and he showed me no respect or moral decency, and yet he has walked away.
“Surely it should be for the courts to decide if he acted in self-defence?”
A police spokesman said: “It has been decided that no further action will be taken in this case because of a conflict in the accounts of what happened.”
Mr Aslam has now been contacted by Jim Battle, the deputy police and crime commissioner, and Bolton councillor Linda Thomas, who have both agreed to look into the the matter.
