It happened by the side of the A6055 at Little Holtby – between Leeming and Catterick Village – during the early hours of Sunday, December 1 2019.

Steffan Rhys Wilson, aged 26, of Maesyfro, Station Terrace, Llanybydder, West Wales, got in the taxi at around 3am from outside Club Amadeus in Northallerton.

When the taxi arrived at Little Holtby, Wilson carried out an unprovoked attack on the driver.

Steffan Rhys Wilson, aged 26, has been jailed after a vicious attack on a taxi driver that left him with a critical brain injury. He also punched and strangled two police officers.

The victim, a 43-year-old taxi driver from Northallerton, suffered a critical brain injury and was in a coma for two months at James Cook University Hospital.

Police officers arrived as the attack was ongoing.

Wilson immediately stopped and began attacking the officers, a male Sergeant and female PC.

The PC was punched and the Sergeant was strangled by Wilson.

Fearing for their safety, the officers activated a call for emergency assistance.

As he was being put in the back of the police van, Wilson reportedly said the following to the Sergeant: “You took your time. I was going to kill him (the taxi driver) and I was going to kill you.”

He was charged that same day with attempted murder and the two assaults on emergency workers.

He was remanded in custody.

Wilson was discharged for gross misconduct from his position as a Corporal with the Royal Engineers.

Wilson had been set to face a trial for attempted murder but pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The plea was accepted by Leeds Crown Court on Monday, November 2.

He was jailed for nine years and nine months on Tuesday, November 3.

Detective Inspector Matt Wilkinson, of Northallerton CID, said: “In this case there are three victims – the taxi driver and the two police officers. None of whom were known to Wilson.

“The taxi driver merely collected Wilson from outside a local nightclub, and the police officers were responding to the driver’s call for help.

“During the time Wilson was being questioned at the police station, he has not given any credible explanation for his terrible actions, other than to say he was really drunk and that he didn’t mean any harm.

“He did state that he thought he was on a military exercise, but extensive police enquiries were conducted around Wilson’s military career and there was nothing to suggest that he had or was suffering from PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) at the time of the incident.

“All the evidence gathered during the course of the investigation indicates that it was a completely unprovoked attack. To this day, Wilson’s motive remains unknown.”

The victim was discharged from hospital at the beginning of March.

He remains under medical care but as an outpatient.

He has ongoing issues with his vision, co–ordination and mood changes, and now carries a Brain Injury identity card.

DI Wilkinson said: “His wife has been heavily reliant on the Malayali community and their family – many of whom do not live locally – to assist with caring for him and to help with their children.

“However, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, this has left his wife having to provide the care alone.

"The family are struggling financially and their children have also needed additional support at school as a result of this attack.

“In view of this despairing situation, North Yorkshire Police is trying to facilitate some extra support through our partner agencies.”

Addressing the assaults on the Sergeant and PC, DI Wilkinson said: “Taking into account the violent actions against the taxi driver, the ferocious attack on them and the comment made by Wilson immediately after he was arrested that he was going to kill them along with the taxi driver, both officers said they feared for their lives.

“Although the officers sustained slight injuries, this incident has had a lasting effect on them. It left them very shaken and upset for a number of weeks.

“Overall, this has been a very tragic and sad case for all concerned. Aggravated further as it was the taxi driver’s birthday on the day of the attack, and for the defendant who, prior to this case, was regarded as a good soldier who played rugby for the Army.”

Former soldier left taxi driver in coma with permanent brain injury after vicious unprovoked attack