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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Poppy Kennedy & Laura Sharman

Boozy mum punched taxi driver on Mother's Day after refusing to pay £13 fare

A boozed-up mum punched a taxi driver after a Mother's Day bash and made off without paying the £13 fare.

Armani Nicholson, 32, hopped into a taxi from Darlington to her home in Middleton St George, County Durham, after spending the afternoon drinking with family and friends in an early Mother's Day celebration.

The cleaner, from County Durham, refused to pay the £13 and when the driver confronted her, she punched him in the chest three times.

She also assaulted two police officers and hurled abuse from her upstairs window in a drunken rage.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court heard how the mum started shouting abuse at the taxi driver and officers as people walked past her home on the early evening of March 26.

Cops were able to gain access to the house and Nicholson was arrested, when she assaulted one of the officers.

The court heard how Nicholson, who works as a cleaner, made a 'serious error in judgement' (Teessidelive)

She continued to be abusive and assaulted another officer when she kicked out while being asked to change into an anti-ligature clothing for her own safety.

At the earliest opportunity, Nicolson admitted two counts of assaulting a police officer, one of common assault, one of making off without payment and one of using threatening and abusive language to cause harm, alarm of distress.

The court heard that Nicholson continued to hurl abuse from inside her home.

Prosecutor John Garside said: "She then shouted words to the effect of 'get out of my garden you freak'.

"The defendant had been shouting abusive language from her upstairs window into the street. She was shouting 'f*** off'."

The mum made off without paying the taxi fare (Teessidelive)

Victim impact statements were read out from the taxi driver and the two officers. The court heard how all three victims did not suffer any physical injuries during the incident.

"[The taxi driver] describes how it was a waste of his time, not only having the loss of money from the fare but loss of potential earnings for that evening, Mr Garside said.

"He says he has lost trust in people and fears this will continue to happen."

One officer's statement outlined said how he "doesn't come to work to be assaulted" and highlights how they "attended after she called for help only to hurl abuse at me".

While the other said how she feels "very let down by today's society and the incident has left her feeling that members of the public have little respect for the police."

The court heard how Nicholson, who is a single mum works four days a week as a cleaner, had gone out to enjoy herself but made a "serious error in judgement" in drinking.

She was ordered to pay £13 compensation for the taxi fare and £100 to each victim (Newcastle Chronicle)

The mum-of-one is on antidepressants, and combined with the alcohol she had drank, said she had very little recollection of the incident.

Nick Musgrove, defending, said: "If the police officer has formed the view that she is someone who thinks she can do and get away with what she wants that is not the case. She has fully accepted that her behaviour was very poor on that night.

"She pleaded guilty and the first opportunity and I think that does show there is genuine remorse. Although she is not of good character, she doesn't have anything for assault. She is not someone who is prone to this sort of behaviour."

The court heard how having relied on the police in the past she was "ashamed" that she had acted in such a way.

Magistrates warned Nicholson that they had considered whether or not to impose a custodial sentence.

She was ordered to pay compensation of £13 for the taxi fare as well as £100 to each victim. She is also subject to a two week curfew and must not leave her home between 8pm and 6am.

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