A man who chased and viciously attacked an Uber driver in a Tesco car park after an argument during a taxi ride has been jailed for five and a half years.
Declan Devine, 33, of Panfield Road, Wythenshawe, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court yesterday (April 24) after admitting to wounding with intent and a separate assault charge linked to an earlier incident.
The court heard that Devine had booked an Uber on the afternoon of July 2, 2022, and got into the taxi smoking a cigarette. A dispute over the driver’s speed erupted during the journey, prompting Devine to ask the driver to pull over at a Tesco store.
Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, the driver cancelled the fare on the Uber app and attempted to leave the car park on Chorlton Road. Seeing the vehicle pulling away, Devine chased after the car and attempted to force open the door.
“Mr. Devine attacked the victim. The pair exchanged blows, and the driver quickly fell to the ground,” prosecutor Philip Hall said.
“CCTV footage shows Devine stamping on the victim while he was motionless on the floor.”
The taxi driver suffered bruising and swelling to both eyes and a nose injury, requiring hospital treatment. In a victim impact statement, he revealed he had since suffered from sleepless nights, flashbacks, and financial losses.
“The offender’s behaviour was despicable,” he said. “I was in fear of my life.”
Prior Offence at Canal Street Bar
Devine also pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm for a separate assault in May 2022, when he smashed a glass bottle into the face of a man at a Canal Street bar in Manchester.
The court was told that Devine has a long history of violence, with 15 convictions for 26 offences, including multiple assaults.
Defence and Sentencing
Mitigating, Joe Allman said Devine had expressed “significant contrition” for his actions in a letter to the court and had completed anger management courses while on remand. He also described a traumatic childhood compounded by the death of Devine’s mother five years ago.
Judge Alan Conrad KC remarked:
“You have a very bad record for violence, resulting in several custodial sentences. Both assaults were captured on CCTV, and they reveal the serious threat you posed.
Devine will serve at least half of his sentence before being eligible for release on licence.
