Two teenagers jailed for violent attack on taxi driver who asked for a fare deposit upfront

Image credit: Essex Police

Two teenagers from Thurrock, Edward Wall and Ollie McKenzie, have been sentenced to jail after admitting their involvement in violent attacks on a local cab driver.

Wall, 19, has been sentenced to five years in prison, while McKenzie, received a sentence of three years and nine months.

The case revolved around a vicious assault on a taxi driver in Grays, which occurred last year. Wall also admitted his involvement in attacks on two men at the Inn on the Green pub in Stanford-le-Hope. Wall was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of actual bodily harm, while McKenzie pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

During the trial at Basildon Crown Court, disturbing details of the two attacks were revealed. The first incident occurred outside the Wharf Pub in Grays, on the night of May 19, 2022. Wall and McKenzie were part of a four-person gang that assaulted a taxi driver after a heated dispute over a deposit on a taxi fare. The group dragged the driver out of his vehicle and subjected him to a sustained attack, including stamping on him, before fleeing the scene. The victim sustained substantial injuries as a result of the assault.

Furthermore, Wall faced separate charges of two counts of actual bodily harm for attacking two victims at the Inn on the Green in Stanford-le-Hope.