Cabbies race to the aid of fellow driver who was being battered by thug who refused to pay fare

A Paisley cabbie has told how a dozen fellow taxi drivers raced to his aid after he was battered by a thug who refused to pay a fare. 50-year-old, Michael Bolland, was left bloodied and bruised after being attacked in Espedair Street, in the south end of town, yesterday morning. The beaten driver, who needed to be treated for facial injuries, was able to hit a panic button in his car following the attack and colleagues flooded the street in their cabs until paramedics arrived.
Mr Bolland had got into a dispute about the fare with three passengers he had just picked up.
As the passengers exited the vehicle, he followed, suggesting that one of them must pay the fare. This is when the dad-of-two was attacked by one of the men. The attacker rained down blows on Mr Bolland causing cuts to his face.
Michael, who has been driving a taxi in town for the past three years, thanked other drivers for coming to his aid.
Once the attack stopped, Mr Bolland was able to get back in his vehicle and press a panic button. This is when I saw a number of other cabbies arrive on the scene to help.
One cab driver, who arrived on the scene shortly after the incident, expressed his anger towards a fellow driver's assault, saying that the guy was just trying to simply do his job.
He added that Mr Bolland was pretty shaken up at.
As reported by the Daily Record, Mr Bolland said he didn't even know most of the drivers who showed up but said it's just the way things are - when a fellow driver is in danger everyone is there to help. Cops were reviewing dashcam footage from the cab yesterday as they investigated the incident.
A Police Scotland spokesman yesterday said a 16-year-old man has been reported to the procurator fiscal following an assault charge.