Knife ordeal driver's work pledge

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A Dundee taxi driver who fought off a would-be robber after he held a knife to his throat has vowed to continue working.

Despite suffering cuts to his hands, the 48-year-old, who did not wish to be named, managed to grab the blade and bend it so that it could not be used.

The attack happened at the former Shell garage on Strathmartine Road at about 0805 GMT on Sunday.

The driver was treated for his wounds at Ninewells hospital in Dundee.

The man, who has 27 years' taxi experience, had picked up a man and woman in their 20s on Dens Road at about 0755 GMT and set off on the 10-minute drive to the old petrol station.

The victim told BBC Scotland: "The guy just kept saying 'get the money out, get the money out' and I think I was more infuriated he had the audacity to pull a knife on me.

Every place I kept looking I could see the blood just coming out, then you realise it wasn't one of them that got blood on them, it was me Taxi driver

"I think I was more annoyed at that than the fact he was attempting to rob me.

"I managed to pull the blade away from my throat, bend the knife back on itself so the blade was in a U-shape.

"The blade was roughly about 8in to 10 in long, sort of like a bread/carving knife."

The driver threw the knife away so that his attackers could not try to use it against him again and then noticed that there was blood all over the vehicle.

He said: "Every place I kept looking I could see the blood just coming out, then you realise it wasn't one of them that got blood on them, it was me."

Despite his ordeal the driver has returned to work, although he admitted that he would break himself back in gently.

The driver was treated for his wounds at Ninewells Hospital

He said: "At the end of the day I'm just glad it happened to me and not one of the elderly guys who probably couldn't handle it."

Police have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries to try to find the attackers and have renewed their appeal for witnesses.

The driver said the taxi trade would do what it could to help officers.

"Somewhere down the line we will find out who this person is," he said.

"It might not happen today, it might not happen tomorrow, but at some stage we will find out who this is."