High on a cocktail of drink and cocaine, Axon MacPhee, 19, knifed David Ferrer, 57, in his stomach, the blade penetrating his intestines causing massive blood loss, after the driver asked for the fare he was due.
MacPhee then walked round to the other side of the car and attempted to plunge the knife into the neck of Mr Ferrer, a father of three.
Mr Ferrer, from Monton, Salford, trying to protect himself, was stabbed in his arm, MacPhee twisted the knife as he slashed his victim, Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard.
The victim, a taxi driver for 30 years, was put on a life-support machine and has since had two heart attacks and a triple heart bypass.
The court heard MacPhee had abused alcohol and cannabis since the age of 11, ecstasy since 14 and cocaine since the age of 15.
Only weeks before the attack he had been released from detention after serving a term for affray and possessing a bladed weapon in public.
Jobless MacPhee spent his time drinking and taking drugs, the court heard.
Brutal
Passing sentence, Judge Adrian Smith said: "These were life threatening injuries caused by you in a brutal and determined attack.
"It has had a serious impact on this man's life and will continue to do so."
MacPhee, of Chomlea Manor, Salford, was found guilty of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm after a trial in April. He told the jury he was so drunk and high on drugs he could not remember the incident.
He was also ordered to serve five years on licence when he is released.
Outside court Mr Ferrer, who has an autistic son aged 11, and two daughters, 16 and 21, said: "That man tried to take me away from that family.
"What he will do when he comes out is kill somebody. The justice system is wrong, he will do half his sentence. He's never put one penny into society, he's a taker. He will do exactly the same again, I hope it is not one of your relatives that's involved.
"I could tell they were scum the minute they got in my taxi, shouting and swearing. I blame their parents."
He had picked up MacPhee and three of his friends in his minibus on the evening of December 4, 2007, from the Willows Vault in Seedley, Salford.
The group, carrying bottles of alcohol, were driven to Irlam Square but when Mr Ferrer asked for payment a row broke out.
He was punched in the head before MacPhee used the knife.
Mr Ferrer managed to put his car into gear and drove himself to Hope Hospital were he was taken into surgery.
Detective Chief Inspector Jon Chadwick
It is beyond belief why someone would use such a level of violence towards someone over such a small amount of cash
He was in hospital for two weeks and has suffered numerous health problems since, which has resulted in him losing his job.
Detective Chief Inspector Jon Chadwick from Salford CID said: "It is beyond belief why someone would use such a level of violence towards someone over such a small amount of cash.
"I am under no doubt that the victim would have died if he had not driven himself to hospital that night.
"People should feel safe going about their jobs and I am glad MacPhee now has to face up to the pain and misery he has caused the victim and his family.
"The victim has understandably been left traumatised by the ordeal and I only hope he can now begin to move on from what happened to him."
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Zimmerman, manchester (07/08/2009 at 15:47)
john davis, Broughton, Salford (07/08/2009 at 15:59)
Thomas The Tank, Rusholme (07/08/2009 at 16:05)
Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (07/08/2009 at 16:05)
Every time that people like you and me read about evil thugs like MacPhee who have committed horrendous crimes against law abiding citizens getting lenient sentences we tend to blame the judiciary. The real villians behind the weak Criminal Justice system are the politicians at Westminster who are not prepared to finance the building of new prisons to accommodate the dregs of society. And not only is it about financial matters, politicians and the politically correct brigade seem to be more concerned about the human rights of the criminals than those of people in society who don't break the law and who don't expect the state to keep them through the welfare benefit system.
GOD IS A BLUE, Failsworth (07/08/2009 at 16:07)
Johnny D, wythenshawe (07/08/2009 at 16:14)
bring back the deeath penalty please
Of Denton, Tameside (07/08/2009 at 16:18)
This Labour Governments refusal to wage a war on drugs is destroying this country and subjecting innocent law abiding citizens to harm, as this story clearly demonstrates.
Labour out - anybody else in!!
Paul (07/08/2009 at 16:18)
Scum like that needs to Hang !
Englisc Stannes, North Manchester (07/08/2009 at 16:20)
Zimmerman, manchester (07/08/2009 at 16:28)
We need a dedecated drugs force that cannot be controlled by the PC brigade we have in britain ,and we need a new law "Drug dealers will be executed" not a long spell in our posh prisons that compare to a five star hotel.
Farzana_butt, MANCHESTER (07/08/2009 at 16:36)
john davis, Broughton, Salford (07/08/2009 at 16:38)
Farzana_butt, MANCHESTER (07/08/2009 at 16:38)
Farzana_butt, MANCHESTER (07/08/2009 at 16:39)
john davis, Broughton, Salford (07/08/2009 at 16:40)
Brook Lands (07/08/2009 at 16:41)
Anyway, on with your lynch mob.
Of Denton, Tameside (07/08/2009 at 16:43)
Would he have re-offended if the Labour Government stopped the open trading and use of drugs in prison?
Should he have been released in to society to do this or was he given a soft sentance and released early because Labour doesn't want prisons becoming too full or else criminals and their families might not vote for them at the next election?
How much more of this do innocent people have to be subjected to before the Labour Government helps make our country safer?
Are you proud of your creation Dr Labournstein?
WHO ARE WE, Manchester (07/08/2009 at 17:11)
bluedefence (07/08/2009 at 17:16)
We can all make sweeping statements by taking a single incident in isolation.
This government tried to get 90 days detention for terrorist suspect but Tory MP's opposed it even though party members supported it.
I agree we need to give these people very stiff justice and if that means building 30 new prisons then so be it.
Politics plays its part but successive governments have had to operate with one hand tied behind their backs because of the judiciary, EEC and do gooders.
Thomas The Tank, Rusholme (07/08/2009 at 17:48)
The real Jimmy Grimble, Manchester (07/08/2009 at 18:05)
Bring Back the Borough of Eccles, Patricroft (07/08/2009 at 18:08)
We all get AGRO at some time, but its one thing getting a runner or getting your door kicked in but to get stabbed is another.
I have runners, many off them, I always let them get away,its no good chasing after them, because you dont know if they have a knife, I inform the Police, but thats time consuming, and alot of drivers dont bother,by the time the police come they have scarpered and the 3 hours it takes to give your particulars only gives us less wages so we get on with it letting the thief get away once again.
My car roof was jumped on a couple of years ago, the police arrived and after a word with the culrit they told me the offender worked in a Bank and if they arrested him he would lose his job, so they gave him a £60 fine. Great he does the damage costing hundreds and he gets a poultry £60 fine.
We seem easy pray for mindless thugs, things go quite then all of a sudden its one attack after another.
We get no training, we get no cctv cameras in our vehicles like the GM bus drivers, why because our councils cant be bothered with us.they take the license money and thats it, unless we do somthing wrong.
Gateshead Council did somthing for the drivers they got cctvs in most private hire and taxi vehicles and they even got Grants to install them just like the bus companies.
15,000 private hire vehicles carrying over 246 million customers a year 24 million more than the GM Buses and we cant get cctvs in our Vehicles.
The Police and Councils should be advertising the fact that not paying a fare is a crime and any one caught will have Crimminal Record not to mention a large fine.
Greater Manchester Councils should get together on this and sort the problems out, its there territory this is happening in, and whilst they get grants for the bus companies surely they can do something to get cctvs in all Taxis.
www.gmpha.co.uk
Billy the Fish! (07/08/2009 at 18:21)
Plant-pot.
I would never advocate the death penalty, but hard labour camps, 14 hours per day cracking rocks in chains, water bread and vitamin supplements only, no visitors for the first 5 years of a sentence and pack them 30 to a cell. I wouldn't bat an eye lid at harsh regimes for oxygen thieves likes this!
New prisons don't even need to be built. Just dump the scum on a remote island and let them build their own shelter. Just put up a huge fence and have machine gun towers strategically placed in case they try and swim for it.
When you commit human wrongs, you forfeit your human rights!
Steve Smith (07/08/2009 at 18:24)
Britt/Canada (07/08/2009 at 18:58)
Your comment is 100% correct...makes the old problem,reaction & solution theory very plausable.The untouchables seem to be manipulating the legal system & sentencing, if you belong to the general population it's a no win situation.
Do not understand why he was not charged with attempted murder,seems a cast iron case if you plunge a knife into someone & then try to stab them in the throat.
He should have got at least 20 years. Hope the driver recovers, but sounds like he is never going to get his normal life back.