Black Cab Driver Attacked In Late-Night Vomit Row: Couple Hunted

Police are hunting a couple after this black taxi driver, who demanded sick be cleaned up, was beaten unconscious in the early hours of the morning.

The man and woman, in their early twenties, had hailed the cab near Harrods on January 26 and paid the £20 fare.

However, the 62 year-old driver was severely beaten when he demanded the vomit be cleaned up or an extra £45 be paid to cover the cost.

Detectives from Kensington and Chelsea are appealing for help to identify the pair, who got into the cab near Brompton Square, Knightsbridge at 2.20am.

The cab driver, who does not wish to be named, agreed to take the couple to Addison Gardens, Kensington.

Following the journey of three or four miles, the man paid the fare, but the driver noticed that the woman had been sick in the back of his cab at some stage during the journey.

He suggested to the man that they should clear up the mess or give him an extra £45 to pay for the cleaning of the cab.

The cab driver has no recollection of what happened next, but when he regained consciousness he was badly injured and his clothing was covered in blood.

He managed to drive home where his son took him to hospital for treatment.

He had sustained multiple fractures around his eye socket.

Officers were called to the hospital where they began an investigation.

Detective Constable Simon Jewell, from Kensington and Chelsea CID, said: "The victim's injuries are consistent with having been repeatedly kicked or punched in the head.

“This would appear to be a vicious attack on a sixty year-old man who has only recently been able to return to work.

"We have released a photo of the cab driver in hospital taken from a Body Worn Camera in the hope that this will encourage people to come forward with information to help the investigation.

"We are appealing for anyone who can help us to identify the couple, a white man and woman in their early twenties, who caught the cab in the early hours on Monday, 26 January from the vicinity of Brompton Square to Lower Addison Gardens.

"We'd particularly like to speak to the residents of Lower Addison Gardens and Addison Gardens who may have heard noise at approximately 02:30 hrs on Monday, 26 January or may even have witnessed the assault."

If you have any information about this incident please call police on 020 8246 0217 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.