Men who scarred taxi driver for life over £20 fare jailed

Sajid Javed was stabbed by Gordon McPherson and repeatedly punched by Dylan Sullivan.

Men who scarred taxi driver for life over £20 fare jailed Spindrift

Two men who attacked a taxi driver over a £20 fare have been jailed.

Sajid Javed, 36, was stabbed by Gordon McPherson, 21, and repeatedly punched by Dylan Sullivan, 20, outside their house in August last year.

The terrified cabbie was left scarred for life after the pair pounced in Glasgow’s Govan.

The dad-of-three, who recently told STV News he wanted CCTV to be installed in cabs, is still too afraid to work months after his ordeal.

His attackers were sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

McPherson was locked up for 32 months after admitting assaulting the Mr Javed to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Sullivan was ordered to serve ten months following his guilty plea to assaulting Mr Javed to his injury.

Mr Javed  was left scarred for life.

Sheriff Iain Fleming said: “This was a vicious and sustained assault to a man in his employment and this will attract a prison sentence.”

A hearing was told the men ordered a cab in Govan taking them to Scotstoun in city’s west end.

They were told the fare had be paid up front because of the distance.

Mr Javed arrived and told McPherson and Sullivan that the fare was £20 which they “took exception” to.

Prosecutor Pat Callendar said: “They began to assault him.

“McPherson struck Mr Javed on the head and body with a knife while Sullivan repeatedly punched him on the head.

“Mr Javed bled during the assault.”

Mr Javed managed to get back into his taxi as the attackers fled.

A neighbour dialled 999 before the victim was rushed to hospital.

Mr Javed was treated for a wound to his upper cheek which required nine stitches.

‘This was a vicious and sustained assault to a man in his employment and this will attract a prison sentence.’

Sheriff Iain Fleming

Miss Callendar added: “Mr Javed will be permanently scarred.”

Sullivan was initially traced and found with blood on his clothes. He claimed to have been attacked.

McPherson had blood on his hands when he was tracked down 

Neal McShane, defending McPherson, said: “He can remember a minor disagreement on the return taxi fare.

“Mr Javed got out his taxi and approached McPherson. He considered that to be an aggressive action.

“He accepts what happened thereafter and there there is no justification.”

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