A TAXI driver was grabbed round the neck by a passenger before passing out whilst driving a group of people from Worcester to Pershore in the early hours of the morning.

The assault took place while the driver was travelling at around 40mph into Pershore after picking up three men and one woman at the Cross taxi rank in Worcester at about 3.25am on Tuesday, July 30.

He told police when he was travelling on the Worcester Road in Pershore, at around 3.45am, when the man in the rear seat directly behind him suddenly grabbed him by the neck with both arms using his full strength.

This attack caused him to take both of his hands from the steering wheel to stop the man from choking him and he believes at this point he passed out.

The vehicle came to a stop in the road near the junction with Station Road and the passengers got out of the taxi but the woman passenger returned and apologised for what happened.

All were described as being white and in their 20s.
One man was around 5ft 10ins tall, of medium build, had short dark hair and was clean shaven. He was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt and blue jeans. The other two men were both of medium build, one had short hair and the other had thick hair on top and short at the sides.

The woman was of medium build, had shoulder-length hair and was wearing a black, knee-length dress.
Sergeant Martin May appealed for witnesses to come forward or the passengers themselves.

He added: “This was a distressing incident for the taxi driver and he has told us he has been having discomfort in his throat since.”

Anyone with information can contact the police on 101 or anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and should quote the reference number 20N 300713.