SHOCKING footage shows the moment a taxi driver is repeatedly punched in the face by his passenger.
The disgusting moment occurred in Cotteridge, Birmingham allegedly following a dispute over a fare on Tuesday.
As the clip begins, the passenger is seen arguing with the driver outside the vehicle.
The passenger bends down to pick up his bag and the driver shoves him slightly.
The argument continues and the passenger shouts: “If you put your hands on me again I’m going to punch you straight in the face.”
At this point the people filming become concerned that the passenger might hit the elderly driver.
A woman can be heard shouting saying: “Tell him if he f****** hits him he’s going to get it.
“He does this every day.”
The people filming then began calling on the passenger to pay the driver.
The driver shouts: “He is not giving me money” as he grabs hold of the passenger’s bag.
Suddenly, the passenger draws back his arm and punches the old man directly in the face.
The driver staggers backwards and lets out a shout.
The passenger strikes the man again as he tries to defend himself.
The man then begin fighting each other with the passenger landing several blows.
There is a blood curdling scream in the background and another man goes over to investigate.
As the clip ends, the passenger threatens the driver again and walks away.
The shocking scene was shared on social media by local Councillor Majid Mahmood.
He shared the clip saying he was “disgusted” by the “vicious” assault and described the driver as “quite elderly”.
He added he was “sick of these relentless physical and verbal assaults against our hardworking private hire drivers” and urged police to adopt a zero tolerance approach as well as install more CCTV.
The footage prompted outrage from social media users.
Abid Satti wrote: “This is absolutely unacceptable and I don’t know how long we have to face attacks like this.
“I don’t know when this is going to end.”
Choudhary Majid added: “Absolutely awful.”
And Zoe Bibi said: “Aww that’s terrible so sad to watch, how can someone do this especially with what’s going on in this pandemic. Hope the driver is okay.”
Speaking today, Majid confirmed that he had spoken with the taxi firm.
He said: “I spoke to the taxi base, it’s A Cars in Cotteridge.
“The operator told me it’s been reported and the police are dealing with it.”
The taxi firm’s owner also confirmed the police were investigating.
A-cars owner, Nasser Ahmed, 52, said: “The driver is in his early 60’s, so he is of age. It is shocking.
“It is an ongoing police matter at the moment so I can’t comment further.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We’re investigating after a taxi driver was attacked following a dispute over a fare in Druids Heath at around 2pm yesterday (30 June).
“The 52-year-old man was taken to hospital with a cut and swelling to his face after being repeatedly punched in Kimpton Close.
“We’re aware of video circulating on social media and the footage is being examined as part of our enquiries to trace the attacker.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact us via Live Chat, or by calling 101, and quote 20BW/151488Q/20.”
