Monday 30 January 2012

Cab Passenger Left Driver Brain-Damaged By Single Punch


A teenage thug, who left a mini-cab driver brain-damaged after punching him to the ground in West London, has been remanded in custody until he is sentenced next month.

Anthony Panayi, 18, of Eastcote Road, Ruislip attacked 40 year-old father-of-two Muhsin Akhtar after the cabbie ordered the defendant and his four friends out of the car.

He had collected the group outside ‘Fabric’ nightclub, Farringdon at 3:00am on March 18, last year.

In Bridgewater Road, Ruislip Mr. Akhtar stopped the vehicle and told the group to get out, but one of them threw his sat nav into a nearby park.

Panayi punched the victim in the face, causing him to fall to the ground and suffer very serious brain injuries.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of wounding, causing grievous bodily harm.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Duffield of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “This case should serve as a reminder that if you chose to use your fists to settle a disagreement, the consequences are potentially life-changing for both the victim and the person who throws the punch.

“The MPS will do everything in its power to catch those who use violence on our streets and bring them before the courts to face justice.”


After Panayi threw the punch a female motorist spotted two men standing over the injured man, who ran away when she shouted at them.

A wallet left at the scene identified a possible suspect five teenagers were quickly arrested at an address nearby.



Charges against his four friends were dropped in May.

They are: Conor Graham Swift, 19, of Park Crescent, Harrow; George Simon Lynes, 19, of Larne Road, Ruislip; Christopher Boyce, 18 of Victoria Road, Ruislip and Ross Michael Bailey, 19, of Victoria Road, Ruislip.

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