A TAXI rank marshal attacked while working the rank on Bridge Street is calling for victims of assaults to always be awarded compensation.


Alec Bray, aged 40, of Sandalwood Close, Orford, says he was butted and suffered a broken nose in the attack.


Despite an operation at Halton Hospital, and incurring taxi travel costs in the process, Mr Bray said he has not been awarded any compensation.


“I put two drunk lads into a taxi and a couple of minutes later the driver returned with them saying they weren’t together and one of them had no money.


“I asked the lad to get out of the taxi and he wouldn’t, then he started to get aggressive and spat in the driver’s face and then mine.


“Again I asked him to get out of the taxi before I called the police over, at which point he turned in the seat and butted me and broke my nose.


“The police were near by and came running over and arrested him.


“He didn't seem to care about this as he then started to spit at them as well.”


The incident happened on March 8.


John Kevin Michael Sinnott, aged 37, of Museum Street, was jailed for 18 weeks two days later after pleading guilty to two counts of assault.


Sinnott was jailed in 2007 for three years for running a crack house in Padgate.


Compensation can be claimed from the Government’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority if you are a ‘blameless victim of violent crime’.


However, Mr Bray says he was advised to claim but told he would not be paid any money as his injuries were not deemed serious enough.


He added: “I’m not after hundreds of thousands, but something to help pay the costs  would be nice.”


A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “The Government is dedicated to preserving compensation to the most seriously injured victims of crime.


“Where less serious injuries have been caused, we believe taxpayers’ money is better spent providing support services and practical help rather than funding, often small, financial payments.”