Source: The Bolton News
A TAXI driver has re-lived the moment two thugs tried to rob him and attacked his car with swords and bats.
Iqbal Ismail, who drives for Metro in Tonge Moor, said he had a lucky escape after the armed men banged on his car window and said: “Give us your money.”
He locked himself in the car and managed to drive away but the thugs chased after him, hitting the car with the weapons and leaving Mr Ismail terrified.
But Mr Ismail, aged 43, of Thomas Holden Street, Bolton, said: “It’s part of the job.”
He said: “If I just feel scared and stay at home, who will feed my kids? It is awful, but I have to carry on because I have no qualifications to do another job.”
Mr Ismail had driven to an address in Rothwell Lane, Little Hulton, when the attack happened.
The thugs had made a hoax call to Metro and, when Mr Ismail pulled up, they approached his Toyota Avensis and demanded money.
He said: “They tried to hit me and said: ‘Give us your money’ and I locked the door.
They started hitting the car will a long knife — about six feet long — and I drove off.
“I rang the police and then the office to tell them I was OK. It was terrifying.”
Mr Ismail, who has been a taxi driver for more than 12 years, is married with three children.
Nick Astley, aged 43, who has run Metro for about 10 years, said attacks on drivers were common.
He said: “I’ve been in taxis since I was 18 and it’s getting worse. If you got all our drivers together, one in eight would say something like this had happened to them.
“Taxi drivers sometimes have a bad name, but you don’t hear about what they have to contend with. It’s very upsetting, but what can you do? At Metro we do everything we can to look out for the safety of our drivers.”
The firm has been in Mr Astley’s family for more than 30 years and currently employs around 400 drivers.
Police are investigating the attack, which happened last Saturday at about 1.30am, and are appealing for witnesses to call them on 0161 872 5050, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 11.
- Teenager raped in Farnworth11 February 2012, 11:15 am
A TEENAGE girl has been raped in Farnworth. ...
- Remembering the founder of the modern football league11 February 2012, 10:24 am
THE founding members of the football league gathered recently to mark the life of the man who changed the face of football for ever. Here, Bolton Wanderers club chaplain Phil Mason tells the fascinating story of William McGregor... - Famous faces on the tills today to boost gran’s charity campaign11 February 2012, 10:23 am
A PERSUASIVE grandmother has recruited two Bolton MPs to roll up their sleeves and pitch in on the tills of a town centre store to help fight muscular dystrophy. ... - Houghton Weavers’ re-recording available next week11 February 2012, 10:23 am
THE new Lion of Vienna song will be available on CD from next week to help raise funds for a Nat Lofthouse statue at the Reebok Stadium. ... - Dementia group provides relief from 24-hour care11 February 2012, 10:22 am
EACH week more than 50 dementia suffers and their carers meet up at Bolton Dementia Support Group. Reporter Miranda Newey went along to see how the charity is helping them...
