Paul Pollard jailed for blinding taxi driver with wheel brace

Paul Pollard jailed for blinding taxi driver with wheel brace in an attack stemming from a fare dispute, reacting in the dock by shouting that the punishment was unfair. The case concluded legal proceedings following an incident that left the driver with catastrophic head and facial injuries.

According to prosecution details presented at Liverpool Crown Court, the events began when James Thompson, a taxi driver with 17 years of experience, started his shift early in the morning. He collected Pollard from an address on Longfield Road in Litherland. The defendant was heavily intoxicated, slurring his words, and carrying a large bottle of pre-mixed cocktail. Pollard instructed the driver to head to Coniston Street in Anfield, talking incomprehensibly and lying down in the rear of the vehicle as the journey progressed.

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When the car neared its destination, Mr Thompson attempted to rouse his passenger for directions and subsequently requested payment for the fare. Pollard mumbled before admitting he had no money. A confrontation ensued, with Mr Thompson dragging Pollard out of the vehicle. Following an exchange of punches, Pollard seized a wheel brace and struck the driver once with significant force.

Emergency services found Mr Thompson lying in the road bleeding heavily from his eyes, ears, and the back of his head. He was rushed to Aintree Hospital, where medical examinations revealed he suffered a brain bleed and multiple fractures to his eye socket, jaw, cheekbone, skull, and nose. He underwent multiple surgeries at the Royal Liverpool Hospital and the Walton Centre to repair his severe injuries. Medical professionals stated that despite operations to save his sight, consultants fear he will permanently lose vision in his left eye and has been unable to work since.

Pollard's extensive criminal history includes 13 previous convictions for 31 offences. In 2009, he was sentenced for a violent home invasion robbery involving a hammer. A decade later, in 2019, he received a 10-year prison sentence and an extended licence after threatening a taxi driver with a knife, punching him, and demanding cash.

Defending counsel argued in court that Pollard had not set out to cause harm and noted his positive use of time while in custody, where he earned various qualifications. The defence also pointed to a difficult personal background, ongoing chronic physical pain managed with medication, and the recent death of his mother alongside his father's cancer diagnosis. Recorder Anna Price acknowledged these personal hardships and Pollard's remorse when sober, but emphasized the catastrophic nature of the injuries inflicted upon a public service worker while the defendant was under the influence and on licence.

Upon hearing his sentence, Pollard muttered in the dock. The case concludes legal proceedings for this attack, while the victim continues to deal with life-changing medical consequences.