Road rage thug who attacked taxi driver sentenced

A thug who attacked a taxi driver in a mistaken case of road rage was ordered to pay his victim £2,000 today.

Ibraheem Khan, 27, pounced on Abdelella Yousif in Glasgow’s St George’s Cross on November 13, 2022.

Mr Yousif had pulled in behind Khan who was stopped at a green light and sounded his horn to alert a customer of his presence.

Khan’s passenger shouted Mr Yousif before he initially drove off and then pulled up in front of the taxi driver.

Khan and his passenger went on to punch Mr Yousif on the head which left him with a fractured nose.

The attacker then drove off down the wrong side of the road before crashing his vehicle into another car.

Khan pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting Mr Yousif to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Khan, of the city's Kelvinside, also admitted a separate charge of dangerous driving.

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Sheriff Andrew Cubie said: "This was an incomprehensive offence.

"The victim sounded his horn for his fare he was uplifting.

"You were in a car and took this for disrespect and acted very disproportionately with your actions.

"The custodial threshold has been passed and I have considered the matter carefully.

"The tendering of your plea, a positive background report, remorse and work record, a difficult childhood, as well as a lack of analogous offending and being at a low risk of re-offending, saves you from custody."

The sheriff imposed a £2,000 compensation order which Khan will pay his victim.

Khan was also fined £800 and ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work.

He was further tagged for eight months and will be kept indoors between 8pm and 6am as well as put under supervision for 12 months.

Khan was disqualified from driving for 12 months and must sit the extended test when the term is over.

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The court earlier heard that Khan’s Volkswagen Golf vehicle was stopped at a green light when Mr Yousif pulled in behind him.

Mr Yousif sounded his horn to indicate to his customer that he had arrived.

Occupants in the Golf took issue with this with one of the passengers shouting at Mr Yousif.

Khan moved off through the lights and came to a stop a short distance ahead of Mr Yousif’s taxi.

The driver pulled further into the road to collect his customer before Khan reversed his vehicle closer to the taxi.

Khan’s passenger shouted and gestured aggressively at Mr Yousif before the pair exited the Golf.

Prosecutor Alasdair Knox said: “Mr Yousif’s driver's side window was open at this time.

“The male passenger proceeded to punch the victim to the head and face through the window.

“The male passenger then opened the driver door, whilst continuing to punch Mr Yousif.”

The victim then pushed himself out of the vehicle when Khan approached him.

Mr Knox added: “Khan proceeded to repeatedly punch him to the head.

“This part of the assault lasted between 10 and 14 seconds. Khan then walked back towards the Golf.”

Mr Yousif’s nose was burst and covered in blood due to the attack.

Khan drove off at speed and entered the wrong side of the road before returning to the correct lane.

He also failed to stop and ran two red traffic lights before he collided with a vehicle near St George's Cross subway station.

Police attended and noted "significant damage" to both vehicles.

Mr Yousif was taken to hospital where he was treated for a nasal fracture, swelling to his face, oral cavity damage, a chipped front tooth and a loose tooth.

John Scullion KC, defending, told the sentencing: "He accepts full responsibility for his actions in relation to the charges and doesn't seek to minimise his involvement in any way.

"He bitterly regrets acting as he did - he expresses his remorse for his behaviour and recognises the impact this will have had on the victim as well as the wider community."