A THUG who struck a taxi driver on the head, on an Ayr street has been tagged.

David Campbell, of Kirkland Street, Maybole assaulted the man while he was working on Smith Street in December. The 20-year-old appeared before Sheriff Desmond Leslie at Ayr Sheriff Court last week.

Depute Fiscal Cath Whyte said: “Campbell said he wanted to be taken to Maybole. But he threw punches at the driver who tried to push him away. Campbell phoned the police but while on the phone Campbell punched the taxi driver to the face. 

“One month later Campbell was at the same taxi again. He approached and the taxi driver put his window down. Campbell said ‘here mate, I’ve been charged with assault so you better drop the charges. I’m a good guy’.

“The driver responded ‘I’m not getting involved’. Campbell said ‘drop the f***ing charges or I am going to do you in’. The taxi driver moved on. CCTV was viewed which showed Campbell waving his arms about and the taxi driver moving on.”

Speaking on his behalf, defence solicitor Mandy Stewart, said: “Mr Campbell is 20-years-old and when both these incidents occurred he had been consuming alcohol. That masked his judgement. The social work report says he does not accept his actions but on speaking to him, he does. 

“He struck the taxi driver and he does take responsibility for the charges against him. He accepts his behaviour was completely inappropriate and recognises he will face punishment.”

Addressing the dock, Sheriff Leslie said: “You really cannot control yourself at times can you? You can’t control your behaviour, act randomly and shout at a taxi driver. That is something you are going to have to address otherwise you will be back in custody.

“I will be reviewing this in three months to make sure the order is working and to make sure you are thinking about your behaviour.”

Campbell has been placed on a supervision order for 18 months and had a three month curfew imposed.