A Gillieston Heights man will be sentenced in November after pleading guilty to spitting on a taxi driver as he unleased an alcohol-fuelled, racial tirade on him outside Maitland train station.
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Bruce Andrew McNeill, of Cessnock Road, was charged with common assault after the incident on August 17.
According to police documents, McNeill was loitering outside the station entrance about 11.30pm.
The 44-year-old approached the victim’s taxi, which was parked at the head of the line at the rank in front of the station.
McNeill opened the door and spat on the victim twice.
He then began abusing the taxi driver, yelling “this is my country, you mother f——— b———” and “go to your own home country”.
McNeill then slammed the door and spat on the windscreen, goading the driver to get out of the taxi.
Believing he might be assaulted again the driver got out of the car to defend himself, but McNeill slammed the door on his leg twice.
When the driver eventually got out, McNeill spat on him again.
The driver grabbed McNeill by the throat to stop him from spitting again.
The taxi driver jumped on top of McNeill when he fell on the road, to prevent him from escaping while a witness called police.
Officers arrived and viewed CCTV footage of the incident which supported the victim’s version of events.
McNeill was arrested and taken to Maitland police station and police said he was drunk.
McNeill represented himself in court yesterday and told magistrate Sharron Crews he didn’t think the incident was that serious.
Ms Crews said taxi drivers were considered vulnerable.
McNeill will be sentenced on November 3.
