Leeds minicab driver stabbed in neck over £3 fare

Jason Scherer, 47, has been a cab driver for 19 years

A cab driver was stabbed in the neck after his passengers refused to pay a £3 fare in Leeds.

Jason Scherer, 47, a driver for Amber Cars, took three people to Simpson Grove, Armley early on Friday but they said they were unable to pay.

Despite him saying they need not pay, one of the passengers stabbed Mr Scherer and they got out of the car.

A 17-year-old youth was later charged with assault, attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

He appeared before Leeds magistrates on Saturday.

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Mr Scherer, a father-of-three from Farsley, has been a cab driver for 19 years.

He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where he was treated and discharged two days later. He said the injury was only millimetres away from the nerves for his spinal cord, so the outcome could have been very different.

Mr Scherer's son, Connor, set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to cover the income his father will be unable to earn while he is in recovery.

On Twitter, he said his dad would not be happy about the appeal but that any extra money raised would be donated to charity.

Mr Scherer said he felt lucky he was not more seriously injured

Speaking after the incident, Mr Scherer praised the police and emergency services, his family and everyone who had donated to the fund "in what has been a nightmare time for me and my family."

He said: "I felt a smack on the back of my head, so I put my foot on the accelerator and drove down the road.

"As I looked in my rear mirror, I saw the back door was open so I stopped, then I put my hand up to my head where he'd hit me and there was just loads of blood.

'Really lucky'

"I spoke to the operator and I said I don't think he's hit me, I think he's stabbed me. I looked and he was running down the street after me.

"I held my cut, put my foot on the accelerator. and got back to the base."

Mr Scherer said because of the position of the wound, he avoided any complications and feels "really lucky".

An Amber Cars spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with Jason Scherer and his family. We are in regular contact with his family offering as much support as we can.

"Amber Cars wish him a speedy recovery. We strongly echo the appeal from West Yorkshire Police for witnesses."

The men were taken to Simpson Grove, Armley