A TAXI driver told how he has given up weekend night work after he was punched and kicked by a drunk who vandalised his cab.Driver Ivan Warren spoke out after Wayne Death, 21, was ordered to pay him £1,300 compensation for the damage and injury caused.

A TAXI driver told how he has given up weekend night work after he was punched and kicked by a drunk who vandalised his cab.

Driver Ivan Warren spoke out after Wayne Death, 21, was ordered to pay him £1,300 compensation for the damage and injury caused.

Death, who works at the new Pizza Hut takeout on Norwich Road, was given a 12 month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage.

He was ordered to pay £200 compensation to the driver for his injury and a further £1,100 for damage. He was also ordered to pay £55 costs.

After the case Mr Warren told The Star he stopped working Friday and Saturday nights in Lloyds Avenue, Ipswich, after the attack, which has meant a drop in income.

Mr Warren, 48, a cabbie for 15 years, said: "I don't go out any more and do the job at night because there is too many people drinking and getting legless.

"I have had my first grandchild ten weeks ago and I want to be around to see him grow up. I don't want to be punched, kicked or stabbed.

"I have had two or three little incidents in the past, but this is the worst. It was the final nail in the coffin."

He called on police patrols in Lloyds Avenue at night to help make it safer for cabbies.

Former Thurleston High pupil Death had a dozen drinks before getting into the luggage department at the front of Mr Warren's cab on October 18.

He was told to get out as he was not with the group of three males who were already in the taxi.

Prosecutor Sandra Dyer told magistrates Death broke a £600 12-volt plasma TV screen in the vehicle, punched Mr Warren in the mouth with his right hand and kicked him in the right side of the ribs. Mr Warren was left with a one and a half inch cut on the inside of his mouth.

Death, of Violet Close, Ipswich, also kicked the vehicle's front near side headlight and snapped the cab's front near side door handle in half, damaging the sensor alarm.

The court heard he had no previous convictions but received a caution for drunk and disorderly on September 21 last year.

Diane Infanti, mitigating, said Death had been out celebrating a 21st birthday.

"He had two shots of Jack Daniels and coke and ten further drinks of Jack Daniels and Coke, Tequila and champagne.

"He was extremely drunk and has no recollection of the incident."

Bench chairman Ray Condon said: "The matter of assault we feel is aggravated because drink was involved and that you assaulted a taxi driver who was serving the public. They expect to do their work and do not expect to get beaten up while doing it.

"However this was an impulsive action, there were minor injuries and we have taken into account your previous record and the fact you co-operated and showed remorse."

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