Taxi driver bash rage

Paul Dunlop
A TAXI driver was beaten and robbed in Pakenham on Saturday night in an attack police believe was preplanned.
The taxi driver suffered serious facial injuries, including a fractured cheekbone when he was assaulted after bringing a passenger across Melbourne from Ascot Vale.
Police are appealing for community assistance in their bid to find the attacker.
The incident began when the 24yearold taxi driver picked up a fare from Dunlop Street in Ascot Vale about 8.36pm.
The male passenger told the taxi driver to take him to the Australia Post Office in Dandenong, but as they got to the destination he directed him to keep driving.
When they got to Pakenham about 9.40pm, the passenger asked the driver to pull over as he thought he was going to be sick.
The driver pulled over about 250 metres east of Ryan Road and the passenger got out.
Police said he then got back into the taxi a short moment later and began to repeatedly hit the driver in the head, possibly wearing knuckle dusters.
Police said the driver managed to get out of the taxi but the passenger followed him and continued the assault.
The passenger claimed he had a gun and made demands for cash, police said. He also stole the driver’s wallet before getting into a white station wagon that had pulled up behind the taxi.
Police believe the driver of the station wagon was an associate of the offender and that the theft was a well planned and deliberate.
The driver, an Ascot Vale man, was conveyed to the Casey Hospital by ambulance.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the assault or seen a white station wagon in the area at the time of the incident to come forward.
The man police are seeking is described as being aged in his early 30s and about 170 centimetres tall with a muscular build. He had short brown hair, was clean shaven and wearing a red long sleeved jumper and black tracksuit pants.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.