Taxi man angry at Tweed sentence

Tweed also has a conviction for attacking a boy with a golf club The taxi driver assaulted by Jade Goody's widower Jack Tweed says his 12-week jail sentence is "ridiculous". Stephen Wilkins told BBC Radio 5 live he felt "so much sorrow" for Ms Goody's family since the reality star died. But he said her death should not have been taken into account by Harlow magistrates at sentencing on Tuesday. "You're driving and you've got some guy hanging on your neck saying he's going to stab you - I was very frightened," said Mr Wilkins. Tweed was found guilty last month of attacking Mr Wilkins in Epping, Essex, in May 2008.

Mr Wilkins said he picked Tweed up and, like any fare, he had been told at the taxi office he had to pay in advance.

"He refused to pay," said Mr Wilkins. "He got very violent and abusive. He was screaming and saying he was going to bite my head off."

Mr Wilkins said he was driving at 50mph when Tweed, who was in the back seat, pulled the handbrake and grabbed him around the throat.

"We did one and a half spins in the middle of the road," said Mr Wilkins. "We were sitting on a bend and I was just praying that a car didn't come round the bend."

The 21-year-old, of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, had denied the offence and his lawyer said he was "extremely regretful".

Mr Wilkins said Tweed had never apologised to him and that he "has an anger management problem".

His lawyer, Tania Panagiotopoulou, told the magistrates Tweed was a "changed man" since the attack.

"He has endured, with dignity and maturity, very difficult personal circumstances that have been well-documented," she said.

The magistrates said they had considered Tweed's "change in personal circumstances" in passing a reduced sentence.

Tweed was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £455 and £200 to Mr Wilkins.

Ms Goody died aged 27 after a battle with cancer and was buried on 4 April.

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