A taxi driver was stabbed and battered around the face in an ‘extremely brutal and violent assault’ by two thugs he picked up outside an Aylesbury nightclub.
A dispute over the fare flared up when they got to their Luton destination and the passengers viciously attacked the driver with a knife and metal bar.
They stole a large amount of money, two mobile phones and a PDA system.
The 39-year-old taxi driver had collected three passengers in Market Square early on Saturday morning. Two of them were white men, while the other man was black and was so drunk he had to be carried into the taxi.
Having driven to a Luton car park the two white men went into a property to get payment but returned with two other men. The argument then broke out and the two passengers attacked the driver, leaving him with what police described as ‘puncture’ wounds in both arms and facial injuries. The attackers left while the two other men dragged the drunk passenger, who had slept throughout the journey, out of the car and along the road.
The incident happened at around 4.30am in a car park in Hilltop Court, Downs Road, Luton.
The victim was taken to hospital for treatment. The drunk black man was located in a nearby stairwell and also taken to hospital.
Det Con Jo Bosson, who is investigating the robbery, said: “This was an extremely brutal and violent assault on a man going about his daily business. He has been left with some very nasty injuries and extremely shaken up by the whole incident.”
Police are looking at CCTV footage from Market Square and continuing enquiries in the Downs Road area.
The two attackers are both white, in their late teens or early 20s. One was wearing a black hooded top while the other wore a white or light cream coloured jacket.
Anyone with information should contact Det Con Bosson in confidence on 01582 394441, call the non-emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org