[bbfan1991]

A taxi driver who used his black cab "like a bowling ball" to run down a group of men has been jailed for 15 years.

Majid Rehman, 28, of Grangetown, Cardiff, deliberately used his taxi to run over six rail workers and two other pedestrians on a pavement after a row at a taxi rank.

He was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and attempted GBH.

Rehman had admitted dangerous driving.

Judge Phillip Richards told Rehman at Cardiff Crown Court: "You sent bodies flying in all directions, one being trapped under your car.

"Your intent was to cause them all serious harm. It was intolerable behaviour in a civilised society."

The court heard how Rehman was on the taxi rank outside Cardiff Central train station on 27 March this year when a row flared with the railway workers.

Eventually the group of men left the station but Rehman would not let it be.

He left the rank in his car, and even drove through a red light according to a witness.

Shocked commuters watched as his cab ploughed into the six men and two innocent passers-by, Mark Underwood and Richard Partridge in front of the Millennium Stadium.

Wedged under engine

The court was told Mr Underwood was trapped under the taxi and suffered significant burns to his back, legs and arms as he was wedged under the hot engine.

The jury was shown CCTV footage of the taxi mounting the kerb at 14mph outside the station.

Mr Underwood needed extensive skin grafts to his back and is still receiving treatment.



Rehman claimed he acted in self-defence because the men assaulted him.

In sentencing, the judge told Rehman said: "You used a vehicle as a weapon to attack other people.

"If a minor incident of a punch and some abuse is met with this kind of reaction then society is going to be reduced to ruin.

"This was an extremely serious crime which you committed in anger following what was a modest dispute between you and a group of men returning home from work on the railways.

"One of those men punched you once to the chest. It was by no means a devastating blow."

Rehman was jailed for 15 years for GBH with intent and 12 years for attempted GBH.

He was also sentenced to 16 months for dangerous driving. All sentences are to run concurrently.

Rehman was also disqualified from driving for 10 years.