A TAXI driver was punched in the face after refusing to take a man home.
The 49-year-old was sitting in his black cab outside the Radisson on Edinburgh’s High Street on Saturday morning.
Between 4am and 4.45am a man began arguing with drivers at the rank.
He then approached the taxi driver to take him to Tranent but the man refused.
As the driver began to pull away the man punched him through the open taxi window.
The driver then chased the man down Blackfriars Street but he got away.
The suspect is described as being white, 25-30-years-old, 5ft 7ins tall with short blonde hair. He was wearing a khaki-green bomber jacket, blue jeans and white plimsoles.
A police spokesperson said: “We know there were a few people in the area at the time, so we are appealing for anyone who may have been aware of a disturbance at the taxi rank on the High Street early on Saturday morning to get in touch with police.
“It’s possible the man lives in the Tranent area as he was trying to get a taxi there before the assault, so we are also asking anyone who may recognise the description of the suspect or alternatively anyone who gave a man like this a lift to the Tranent area at the time to come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.
