Three teenagers arrested after ‘vile and stupid’ wine bottle attack on taxi driver in Gawler

Three teens have been arrested for bashing a taxi driver with a wine bottle before taking his cab on a 200km joy ride.

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Three teenagers are behind bars after allegedly bashing a taxi driver with a wine bottle before stealing his cab and driving 200km away.

The male taxi driver, 20, who works for 13cabs, accepted a fare in Gawler and picked up two 17-year-old girls and a 15-year-old boy just before 2.30am on Saturday.

As the taxi drove onto Twelfth St, one of the teenagers allegedly hit the driver over the head several times with a wine bottle before booting him from his own cab.

13cabs general manager Chris Cudsi issued a statement, slamming the “violent thugs”.

“We are outraged by this cowardly attack on a person simply doing their job,” he said.

“As a result of the actions of these violent thugs there is one less taxi out there today getting South Australians around.

“There is also one small business owner who, for the immediate future, has lost the ability to run his business – not to mention the emotional impact on him and those close to him.”

The driver, called Jaspreet, said: “I will ensure we provide everything we can to police to ensure justice is done to these violent thugs”.

A taxi driver’s been attacked with a wine bottle in a violent carjacking. It’s alleged the three offenders are teenagers, and drove his car 200ks away to the Riverland #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/goigy45QpS

— Lauren Rose (@laurenrosevj) May 30, 2020

13cabs helped police officers track the stolen taxi northeast on the Sturt Highway towards the Barossa Valley, while Jaspreet was taken to the Lyell McEwin Hospital for treatment of facial injuries.

With the help of the cab’s GPS, officers quietly shadowed the teenagers through Nuriootpa, Blanchetown and Waikerie.

The group finally stopped on Phillips Rd at Berri, about 200km away from where it was allegedly stolen, at 4am.

It took just 10 minutes for Police Dog Havoc and his handler to find the three suspects, who had run into a nearby orchard.

All three teenagers were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery.

They were refused bail and will appear in youth court on Monday.

Mr Cudsi said, other than police cars, there isn’t a vehicle on the road that has more security devices attached to it than a taxi.

Jaspreet was taken to the Lyell McEwin hospital with facial injuries. Picture: Supplied

“(We) can and did live track the trip and vehicle and helped SAPOL identify the scene as well as provide tamper proof security vision after the incident,” he said.

“I would suggest any potential wrongdoers think about that before doing something vile and stupid like these thugs have.”

Taxi Council SA President John Trainer was sickened by the “appalling” attack.

“This is absolutely appalling that someone who is going about their business, providing a vital transport service at the late hours of the night, can’t be safe,” he told The Advertiser.

If drivers are concerned about working in the early hours of the morning, how are late night workers and partygoers going to get home?”

SA Taxi Council chief executive Cheryle Conduit said there is normally a “consistent number” of assaults on taxi drivers, however, it has dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“I was told (by SA Police) that the number of assaults were down because there wasn’t as much activity,” she told The Advertiser.

Ms Conduit said there have been two other assaults on taxi drivers in May and four in April that the Taxi Council SA has been made aware of.

“Prior to (the pandemic) when it’s normal Hindley St activity, we can get eight to 11 assaults per month.”

Saturday morning’s alleged assault in Gawler comes after SA’s public transport union called for protective “cabins” for bus drivers following a brutal attack last Wednesday.

Earlier this month, two people booked a chauffeur through 13cabs, before allegedly carjacking the driver and going on a wild pursuit across Adelaide.