A taxi driver was left with a broken jaw after he was brutally attacked and robbed by two men for just £30 in Harpurhey last month.
The 36-year-old also suffered bruising to his face and body after being beaten and kicked by two men who acted ‘like wild animals’ on Rochdale Road at 4.45am on July 20.
Police have now released CCTV footage of two men they want to speak to in connection with the attack after the driver was left hospitalised.
Detective Constable Ania Ostafijczuk said: “These men were responsible for a totally unprovoked, sustained and brutal attack on a taxi driver who was simply trying to earn a living.
“They set upon this driver like a pack of wild animals, leaving him with a broken jaw and numerous other injuries that needed hospital treatment and all for £30. It is a desperate, not to mention violent act and we need to find the culprits.”
The driver picked up two passengers from outside Dixy Chicken and they paid him £5 to go to Blackley.
However, the driver informed the two men that would not be sufficient to take them to Blackley so drove to Queens Road and said that was as far as he could go on for that amount.
He agreed to take them as far as Harpurhey and pulled up at the junction of Alfred Street.
Both the passengers and the driver got out of the taxi, at which point one of the men launched into an unprovoked assault, punching the taxi driver in the head and face causing him to fall to the floor.
As he lay on the floor, the pair continued to punch and kick the driver in the head before stealing about £30 from the cash dispenser in his car. They then ran off towards Factory Lane.
Police have released CCTV images of two men who they want to speak to in connection with the incident and they are appealing for anyone who recognises them to come forward.
DC Ostafijczuk said: “I would ask anyone who was in the area at this time and either witnessed the assault itself, or perhaps saw two men getting into or out of a silver Volkswagen mini-bus, to call us.
“It is imperative we find these men because we need to send a message to taxi drivers operating across Manchester, in particular this victim, that drivers should not be subjected to any sort of violence when picking up passengers and anyone guilty of this sort of contemptible offence faces prison.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 6808 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
