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CCTV video: Police hunt for man who attacked Peterborough taxi driver
Thursday, 9am: Police are today still hunting a man convicted of a brutal attack on a Peterborough taxi driver.
Curtis King (23), of Cavendish Street, Peterborough, was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm to taxi driver Mohammed Farooq by a jury at Huntingdon Crown Court yesterday.
But after being told earlier in the day he faced being sent to prison if convicted, he failed to answer bail to hear the jury deliver its verdict.
Police are now searching for King, after Recorder Robert Blomfield issued a warrant for his arrest.
King’s sister, mother-of-one Tanisha King (24), also of Cavendish Street, who is six months pregnant, was also convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm. She has been bailed until a sentencing hearing at Peterborough Crown Court next month.
In the attack Mr Farooq (36) suffered a fractured cheek, severe bruising to his left eye and fractured ribs.
He was punched by Tanisha King, before being punched and knocked to the grounded by Curtis King outside Marisqueira cafe, on the corner of Russell Street and Cromwell Road, Peterborough in the early hours of June 4.
Curtis King then delivered a kick to the stricken taxi driver while he was on the ground.
Both denied the charge but were found guilty by the jury after a three-day trial.
Speaking after the verdict, Mr Farooq – a father-of-two who is expecting the birth of a third child later this year – said he thought justice had been done.
He said: “I am really pleased with the court’s decision. At the end of the day justice has been done.
“I want to thank the police for the way they investigated the case and the judge and jury.
“For a long time after the incident I did not feel safe and I was worried about the safety of my family.
“Now it feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.”
Mr Farooq is still feeling the physical effects of the incident, even though it happened eight months ago,
He said: “I still get sharp pains in my head when I concentrate on things and if I look at something for a long time my left eye gets watery.
“The vision is not as good as it was before, either, and I might need glasses.
“I started working part-time again in December, just doing two or three hours a day, but I really want to get back to work full-time.”
Det Con Francesca Scott, who investigated the case, said: “I am very happy with the result and pleased justice has been done.
“This was obviously a brutal attack on a man who was just trying to do his job.
“He was set upon, and suffered a number of injuries.”
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Curtis King should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
