Cabbie from Brighouse tells jury robber punched him in the face

Iftikhar Muhammad, 43, was giving evidence at Bradford Crown Court at the trial of 25-year-old Richard William Powe who has denied being responsible for the attack.

Powe, of Aysgarth Avenue, Lightcliffe, made contact with the police himself after a still image from CCTV equipment was published in the local press, but during questioning he denied robbing Mr Muhammad.

The prosecution has alleged that Powe was picked up by Mr Muhammad’s taxi at the Turkish Delight takeaway in Brighouse last April.

As they travelled towards a pub in Lightcliffe, Powe is alleged to have told the driver to turn on to Aysgarth Avenue.

Giving evidence from behind a screen and with the assistance of an interpreter, Mr Muhammad alleged that his passenger verbally abused him and when he tried to use his radio to contact his base the man grabbed it from him.

Mr Muhammad described how the taxi passenger then snatched about £70 to £80 in notes from his jacket pocket before punching him once in the face causing his nose to bleed.

The complainant said he felt very scared and as he tried to use his mobile phone the man also took that from him.

Mr Muhammad, who described his passenger as a muscular skinhead, told the court how he ran from his vehicle leaving his keys behind.

“I was too scared...I just wanted to save my own life and I ran off,” Mr Muhammad told the jury.

Powe has pleaded not guilty to robbing the taxi driver of his night’s takings and mobile phone.

When he was being taken into custody by police he said: “I remember getting out of the taxi that’s it.”

During a police interview Powe said he paid his fare for the taxi that night and went home.

The trial continues.