Man fined for punching Salisbury taxi driver during night out
Robert Marriner, from Warminster, also admitted criminal damage
A fine of more than £1,200 has been handed to a man for assault by beating and criminal damage in Salisbury.
34 year old Robert Marriner, from Prestbury Drive in Warminster, punched a taxi driver in the face after being refused service.
He'd been told to go home by police in Salisbury city centre after door staff told officers about Marriner's aggressive behaviour while drunk on February 3rd.
Marriner got into a taxi, but assaulted the driver when they refused to take him - no injuries were suffered by the driver.
Police arrested Marriner and put him into the back of their van, where he spat around the inside.
He pleaded guilty to the charges against him and has been fined a total of £1,234.
Marriner's also been ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £492, court costs of £85 and £100 compensation each to the taxi driver and Wiltshire Police.
PC Hammond said:
“When people come to Salisbury for a night out, any violence will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly. I am glad that the courts have taken this assault seriously.
“Marriner was given plenty of opportunity to go home and sleep off the alcohol, however when he did get into a taxi he chose to continue his tirade of abusive behaviour towards the taxi driver. He was subsequently asked to leave the vehicle, and he has then assaulted the driver.
“Taxi drivers work hard to make sure that people get home safely when they have been out drinking and shouldn’t be subject to any assault, physical or verbal.”