Women assaulted by notorious troublemaker in taxi fare row

Women assaulted by notorious troublemaker in taxi fare row

Emma Billingham

01:04PM, Thursday 26 March 2015

Women assaulted by notorious troublemaker in taxi fare row

Jack Dainty

A notorious troublemaker has been sentenced for assaulting two women during a late-night row over a taxi fare.

Jack Dainty, who has a string of offences behind him, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, March 19, after being found guilty of assaulting Natalie Irwin and Chloe Cavanagh on March 23, 2014.

The court heard the 24-year-old, who gave his address as Lent Green Lane, was returning from Windsor with the two women when a row about payment for the fare started.

Claire French, prosecuting, said the women told the driver to stop at Burnham Railway Station so they could get out after Dainty became aggressive.

She said Dainty put his arm around Ms Irwin’s neck and held her arm before lifting her up and throwing her to the floor.

He then grabbed Ms Cavanagh who tried to help and put her into a headlock.

The court heard a member of the public, who was driving past, stopped and got out to try to help. Dainty was verbally aggressive towards him, magistrates were told.

The women left with the member of the public and rang the police.

The court also heard that when questioned by police Dainty admitted arguing about who would pay for the taxi and that he grabbed the women’s wrists to stop them from escaping.

Dainty had previously been found guilty of battery in 2010 and wounding by grievous bodily harm in 2009. His last criminal conviction was in January 2014 for drunk and disorderly behaviour.

Dainty’s defence solicitor, Natalie McNamee, said in mitigation her client had stayed out of trouble for the last year and is also close to completing a plastering course with guaranteed work to follow. Dainty was given a one-year community order, ordered to complete a managing alcohol related aggression course and told to pay £200 compensation and £560 costs.

Dainty appeared on the front page of the Burnham Advertiser in September 2011 after his picture was used in a ‘community safety identity parade’ at a family event.

He was subject to a three-year ASBO at the time but said the use of his picture was unfair.

“After my last conviction I learnt my lesson and I’m just trying to get on with my life,” he said at the time.

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