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Posted on the 22nd July 2025 in PHTM News
RACIST STOKE THUG SPARED PRISON AFTER BRUTAL CABBIE ATTACK OVER FARE
A "racist thug" who battered a cabbie in a dispute over an £8.60 fare narrowly avoided a prison sentence.
Robert Barone, 51, was handed a community order despite a violent outburst that left the cabbie needing stitches and his car damaged.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that the incident, which occurred on June 5, 2023, escalated when Barone objected to being charged £1 more than his usual fare. David Isles, prosecuting, detailed how Barone "exited the vehicle, spat at him through the window, hit him in the face and called him a p***."
After the initial assault, Barone retreated into his Bucknall home. The victim, attempting to report the incident ro his base and blacklist Barone, moved his car down the street. However, Barone re-emerged, armed with a wallpaper scraper.
Isles stated: "The defendant came out and struck the victim three times with a metal rod wallpaper scraper and caused damage to his car door." The attack resulted in the victim's right arm bleeding, requiring stitches at the hospital.
A witness described the scene, noting the defendant had the victim "in a headlock" and that it "looked like the victim was in fear and the defendant seemed aggravated."
Police later found the blood-stained wallpaper scraper under Barone's bed.
Barone, who has a history of 28 convictions for 48 offences, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm and threatening with a bladed article.
Judge Robert Smith, addressing Barone, stated: "You are a man predisposed towards violence." He highlighted the victim's need for hospital treatment and the significant impact on his livelihood, forcing him to take "six weeks off work and lost income."
The judge condemned Barone's actions, stating: "Spitting at him when joined with a racial comment was degrading and disrespectful."
Despite Barone's past and the severity of the attack, Judge Smith opted against immediate imprisonment, citing that "sending you to prison would punish those around you." However, he issued a stark warning: "Let me make one thing really clear, you’ve avoided prison by a hair's breadth."
Barone was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work within 12 months, pay £1,000 in compensation to the victim, and £500 in court costs.
Judge Smith concluded by emphasising that he would be: "reviewing your suspended sentence and you'll be coming to see me every couple of months here in Stoke-on-Trent. You put a foot wrong and I don’t care how many tears will be shed, I’ll send you to prison so fast your feet won’t touch the ground."
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