A taxi driver has suffered a terrifying attack by a passenger wearing a knuckle-duster.

Mohammed Suleman needed 11 stitches in face and head wounds, and was left with a black eye and severe bruising.

The father-of-five is the main wage earner for his family and now fears he will be unable to work for at least four or five months.

He said: "I was terrified. He asked me to pull into a cul-de-sac and then he started punching me. He was wearing a knuckle-duster. I managed to stabilise myself and he got out of my car and ran away."

Mr Suleman, of Legrams Lane, Bradford, has been driving a Toyota Carina cab for just six months. The attack happened after the 44-year-old picked up a fare outside The Boilerhouse in Manor Row, Bradford, at 3.30am on Sunday.

Unusually, the man got into the front seat of the cab. He handed over a £5 note and asked to be taken to a house in Five Lane Ends, Bradford. Mr Suleman drove to the address he was asked to wait outside for a few minutes. The man re-appeared and asked to be taken to Thorpe Edge.

Before they arrived, at about 4.10am, the man told him to turn into Hagg Road, a cul-de-sac near to the Ring O' Bells pub on Harrogate Road.

As soon as the car stopped the man began to assault Mr Suleman, punching him repeatedly in the face.

"I think he wanted me to get out so he could steal from me and when I didn't, he ran away," said Mr Suleman.

Bruised and bleeding, Mr Suleman managed to attract the attention of a nearby driver of a mini-cab who rang the police.

He said he waited 20 minutes for officers to arrive and, when they failed to appear, decided to drive back into town.

Mr Suleman returned to Manor Row where he was able to report the incident to police, who called an ambulance for him.

He was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary, where he had six stitches to his skull and five to his eyebrow.

Recovering at home today, Mr Suleman said: "I am still suffering from vomiting and nausea as a result of being hit on the head."

A Eccleshill Police spokesman said: "This would appear to have been an unprovoked attack.

"The motive does not seem to have been robbery as nothing was stolen."

Witnesses or anyone with information about the incident, should contact Eccleshill Police on Bradford 376059 or 0845 6060606.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.