Police investigating a racially aggravated assault on a taxi driver have issued an image of a man they are looking to trace.
The driver was twice slapped in the head and racially abused after stopping in North Circus Street, Nottingham, and asking his two passengers to exit the taxi.
He made the request after it emerged the man and woman were not the customers who had booked him, as had been claimed by the woman when they flagged down the taxi moments earlier in Angel Row.
A large bottle of fizzy drink was also poured over the dashboard interior, causing damage to the speaker system, and the vehicle was kicked and punched after the man got out.
The incident happened at around 11.30pm on 23 December.
PC Jonathan Everett, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“This was a deeply distressing incident for the taxi driver who did not deserve to be treated in such a despicable way.
“Understandably, he was left very shaken by the incident and sadly it left him contemplating whether to continue working as a taxi driver.
“We are treating the matter very seriously and have identified a man who we wish to speak to in connection with this incident.
“Do you recognise the man in this image? If so, please get in touch with us by calling 101 quoting crime number 25*749720 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”
