By Staff Reporter

Last updated 12:47, Friday, 07 November 2008

A man who drank 18 pints of lager climbed from the back seat of a taxi to the front to assault the driver.

Sean Paul Reid Thompson, 34, of Dent Road, Whitehaven, admitted assaulting Allan Bell, who had been driving Thompson and his girlfriend home. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage and assaulting a police officer.

Whitehaven Magistrates’ Court ordered Thompson to complete 12 months of supervision and a 12-week curfew order.

He must also pay £200 for the damage to the taxi, £100 compensation to Mr Bell, £75 compensation to PC Mike Quigley and £60 costs.

Prosecutor Jane Mackrill said Thompson and his girlfriend had ordered a taxi into Whitehaven from a Distington pub on October 5.

The court heard the defendant became aggressive in the taxi towards his partner and the driver.

Mrs Mackrill said that the driver, Mr Bell, got the impression that Thompson wanted to hit him. The defendant accused the driver of having an affair with his girlfriend and started to hit him on the head. She told the court that Thompson then climbed from the back of the taxi into the front to continue hitting Mr Bell.

Mrs Mackrill said Mr Bell stopped the taxi at The Howgate and got out to phone the police. Although he had no visible injuries, he was shaken up by the incident.

Magistrates heard that when two police officers arrived, Thompson continued to be aggressive. PC Quigley restrained him and as a result received grazes on his elbows.

Val Hendren, for Thompson, said her client realised his behaviour had been unacceptable and agreed his actions could have had more serious consequences.

Presiding magistrate Peter Fox said: “If things had gone wrong, neither you, your partner or the taxi driver would be alive today.”