POLICE have charged a man after a taxi driver was reportedly robbed and punched in the face last week.

Cables Taxis says it was targeted, with two incidents reported to police relating to the night of Friday, May 10 into Saturday 11.

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The firm says it has had several cases of people making off without payment recently and claimed that incidents "escalated" on that particular night.

Firstly, it was reported that two men made off without payment on Cooper Street, Cowley Hill shortly before midnight after a private hire journey.

When challenged, one of the men punched the wing mirror of the taxi.

Later that night there was a subsequent report alleging that three men got into a private hire car on Rodney Street, in the Queens Park area at about 4am.

When the taxi was on Kirkland Street, it was reported one of the men then stole cash from the driver’s pocket before punching him to the face and making off on foot.

Police have arrested and charged Dean James Kermode, 36, of Chamberlain Street, West Park in connection with the alleged incident.

He has been charged with assault and theft, as well as two separate offences of burglary.

Kermode has been remanded in custody.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man from St Helens was arrested on suspicion making off without payment and theft offences and has been released under investigation.