Petition to the Court of Appeal - Prison officer spared jail after attack on Liverpool taxi driver

Liverpool crown court heard Mr Hope, a taxi driver of 29 years, had picked up Dougherty and his brother, chartered accountant Scott Dougherty, 34, outside James Street railway station at about 10pm, on November 26 last year. But once inside the Hackney cab, Dougherty lit a cigarette. When he was asked to put it out, Dougherty, a prison officer at HMP Kennet, in Maghull was abusive, forcing Mr Hope to pull over on St John’s Lane. When he asked the brothers for the £3 fare, they handed over £2, but refused to hand over the final £1. Gerald Baxter, prosecuting, said Mr Hope shouted to the men: “It’s only £1.” Mr Baxter said: “That seems to have infuriated Graeme Dougherty because he then turned around, came back and attacked Mr Hope, headbutting him and punching him.” A passing taxi driver went to Mr Hope’s aid, but could not stop Dougherty’s attack. Later on in the attack, Dougherty’s brother Scott joined in, kicking Mr Hope while he lay defenceless next to his taxi. Despite initially denying the offence, the brothers later admitted assault causing actual bodily harm. In a victim impact statement, Mr Hope told how not only was his body left “battered, bruised and bloodied” but the attack had stopped him enjoying his job. He had to undergo corrective surgery on his nose, which is still deformed. Suspending a 12-month sentence for two years, Judge Adrian Lyon said: “You headbutted him and hit him four times and caused him serious injury.The judge ordered Dougherty to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay his victim £500 in compensation. Judge Lyon sentenced Scott Dougherty, of Aughagranna Road, Dungannon, Country Tyrone to a community order with 80 hours of unpaid work. We, the undersigned believe this to be a miscarriage of justice and demand it be heard at the Court of Appeal