Moment thug punches and kicks father-of-three taxi driver more than 30 times to put him in a coma

This is the shocking moment a vicious thug punched and kicked a taxi driver more than 30 times to put him in a coma.

Callum McDermott, 32, was confronted by the cabbie after he was spotted deliberately stopping traffic in the middle of the road in Saffron Lane, Leicester, at 6.40am on August 23 last year after a drug and alcohol fuelled night out.

Dash-cam footage captured the man then launching his frenzied attack, kicking and punching his victim more than 30 times while he was lying on the ground.

Callum McDermott, 32, of Leicester, was jailed for ten years and eight months

The 45-year-old sustained multiple facial fractures and was placed in an induced coma in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The dad-of-three was left physically and mentally scarred and will never be able to return to work as a taxi driver.

Body-cam video shows how McDermott also violently attacked a number of officers who arrived at the scene and threw a wheelie-bin at them.

One officer was punched in the face and was left with a broken nose in four places as well as cuts and bruises to his face.

McDermott was sprayed with an incapacitant, arrested and taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary where he made racist comments to staff.

He went on to admit grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of assault on an emergency worker and a Section 5 racially-aggravated public order.

He was also charged with attempted murder but following a trial earlier this month he was found not guilty of that offence at Leicester Crown Court.

McDermott, of Leicester, was jailed for ten years and eight months at the same court on Thursday.

McDermott was confronted by the cabbie after he was spotted deliberately stopping traffic in the middle of the road in Saffron Lane, Leicester, at 6.40am on August 23 last year

Dash-cam footage captured the man then launching his frenzied attack, kicking and punching his victim more than 30 times while he was lying on the ground

Detective Constable Berni Smith, of Leicestershire Police, said: ‘This was a horrific attack on a man in a public place, in front of a number of members of the public.

‘Many were left extremely distressed by what they had witnessed.

‘Fortunately, the victim survived the attack, although he is still receiving ongoing medical treatment and life for him will never be the same.

‘McDermott didn’t just stop at attacking the victim, he then assaulted a number of officers, one of whom sustained significant facial injuries.’

Temporary Chief Constable Rob Nixon added: ‘This was a shocking incident and my thoughts are with the victim and his family.

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‘McDermott’s actions that day were inexcusable. Not only did he attack a member of the public but officers doing their duty.

‘Any attack on any police officer is very concerning to us and completely unacceptable.

‘Your police officers and staff are normal people who do incredible things. Drawn from our local communities, they are doing an excellent job at the most challenging of times.

The 45-year-old sustained multiple facial fractures and was placed in an induced coma in hospital with life-threatening injuries

Body-cam video shows how McDermott also violently attacked a number of officers who arrived at the scene and threw a wheelie-bin at them

‘Being attacked and assaulted while they carry out this duty will simply not be tolerated.’

Following the case, the victim’s 36-year-old wife said in a heartbreaking interview: ‘He wishes the man had killed him – life will never be the same again.’

She added: ‘He’s been extremely depressed and can be tearful – he knows something has happened to him he just can’t remember what.

‘We originally come from Sri Lanka and he often says he just wants to go back to his homeland and leave the UK.

‘My older daughter is 10 years old, she knows something has happened and her dad has changed.

‘She was an extremely intelligent girl and as a result of what’s happened her school work started to suffer.

‘Luckily the school have been able to support her and provide some wellbeing counselling to help her.

One officer was punched in the face and was left with a broken nose in four places as well as cuts and bruises to his face

The dad-of-three was left physically and mentally scarred and will never be able to return to work as a taxi driver

‘The detectives who have been investigating this case have been supportive and making adjustments so my husband is able to provide evidence via a video recording and didn’t have to stand up in court and talk about what he remembers or the impact on him now.

‘When the officers came to our home on the morning of the assault I thought they were just there to speak to me or tell me something – I never expected it to be about my husband being seriously assaulted.

‘I was in shock for days, luckily family and friends rallied around us and were there to support me and the children through the traumatic time.

‘That day changed our lives forever and I don’t know whether life will ever be the same for us again.

‘How can someone do that to another person, does he not have a family, doesn’t he have a heart?

‘I can only hope now that my husband will recover in some way and be able to return to work and we can be a normal family again.’