Posted on the 7th November 2025 in PHTM News

HALLOWEEN HORROR AS CABBIE STABS GRANDAD WITH SCREWDRIVER IN DARWEN ROAD RAGE CLASH

A 70-year-old taxi driver has been sentenced after stabbing a grandad with a screwdriver during a violent road rage confrontation over right of way on Halloween night, Preston Crown Court heard.

Tariq Mahmood, of Blackburn, came face-to-face with his victim on a double-parked street in Darwen shortly before 9 pm on October 31, 2022. The court heard neither driver was willing to give way, leading to a tense stand-off.

The grandad, whose stepson and grandson were also in his vehicle, got out and kicked the wing mirror of Mahmood's taxi. In response, Mahmood grabbed a screwdriver and approached the other car, initially intending to damage the paintwork.

A scuffle began when the other driver confronted Mahmood, during which the taxi driver stabbed the man "two or three times to the side of his torso".

Mahmood initially claimed self-defence but later pleaded guilty to ABH (Actual Bodily Harm) and possession of an offensive weapon. The court was told he has since lost his taxi licence.

Sentencing Mahmood, Judge Richard Gioserano stressed the seriousness of escalating a road rage incident with a weapon, particularly given the presence of a child.

"In the normal course of events you have proved yourself to be a law abiding and hard-working man, yet here you are at 70 years of age fighting in the street," the Judge said.

He issued a stark warning to others: "Those who escalate road rage incidents, in particular by producing a weapon, can normally expect to go to prison."

He added: "We just cannot have drivers fighting in the street with weapons over who is going to reverse. You can imagine the chaos that would ensue if people thought they could get away with that."

The incident was aggravated by the fact the victim had a very young child in the car. "Never mind how frightening it was for the other man. How about how frightening it was for the child," the judge said.

While accepting the other driver damaged the wing mirror first, the Judge stated Mahmood should have called the police instead of seeking revenge.

"I accept you took the screwdriver only intending to damage the car, not to damage the man himself but once you did that, the risk did escalate by him trying to stop you," he said.

The Judge concluded that Mahmood was fortunate the injuries weren't more severe: "You are lucky he wasn't more seriously hurt. If he had been, you would be going to prison. Others who take weapons to road rage incidents should think on that. They might not be quite so fortunate in the outcome."

Mahmood was sentenced to a two-year community order with 30 days of rehabilitation activities and 60 hours’ unpaid work.

Addressing the loss of his livelihood, the Judge added: "You have now lost your taxi licence. That is good because someone of your temperament who is prone to losing his tempter in the way I have seen shouldn't be a taxi driver."


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