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.