Teens throw brick through cab, fracture woman's skull

Four teenagers have been convicted of wounding after hurling a brick through a black taxi window, leaving an elderly lady with a fractured skull.

One 17-year-old boy, who hasn't been named for legal reasons, told Birmingham Youth Court that he was "drunk" and targeting taxis in Birmingham on May 25 last year.
He admitted wounding the 77-year-old woman.

Two 16-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy were also convicted for wounding and all four were convicted of conspiring to damage taxis, according to the BBC.

The youths, who are all from Birmingham, will be sentenced on February 3.

The woman, who has not been named, was left with a fractured skull and severe bruising to her face after being struck in the head by the brick when it was thrown as the car travelled across Birmingham.

Dramatic video footage shows the woman - along with her elderly husband - ducking for cover in the back of the vehicle as the missile smashes through the window.

In the footage, the woman can be seeing crying out in despair as the brick hits her in the face while her husband attempts to cover the wound as blood pours down her face.
The driver can be heard saying 'hang on folks' - immediately redirecting to drive to a hospital.

A reported seven cars were damaged on the same night when thugs assaulted multiple vehicles with bricks and stones.

The footage was released by Dudley Private Hire & Taxi Association in a bid to raise awareness of the difficulties taxi drivers face.

The taxi company confirmed the woman was treated in hospital for a fractured skull after the attack.

Shaz Saleem, Chairman of Dudley Private Hire & Taxi Association, previously told MailOnline the attack was 'disgusting' but said it is not unusual.

He said: 'Incidents like the video are not new, we experience such incidents on a regular basis with taxis being attacked with eggs, stones and on this occasion a brick.
'We released the video to make people aware of the difficulties the drivers face and we wanted the attackers to see the damage and injuries they cause.

"For them it's a joke but as you can see this is no laughing matter."

Mr Saleem added that many people have been injured in the past, but they have had positive support by West Midlands Police via Dudley Taxi Watch, a safety advisory group.
He also said the driver of the taxi used to work for DPHTA but is now based in Birmingham.

'Drivers are professionally trained and the driver did an excellent job of keeping calm and helping the passenger,' he said.

Speaking about the stone throwing attacks on 25 May, Inspector Steven Rice, from Harborne police station, previously told the MailOnline: "This completely reckless behaviour has resulted in someone being injured.

'It is only by chance that we are not dealing with something more serious, someone could have been killed.

'We have increased police patrols to stop this happening again.