Model attacked after fare row

A glamour model and former television presenter told today how she was left bruised and bleeding after a vicious attack by a mini-cab driver.

Debbie Corrigan, 28, has vowed never to take a mini-cab again after being punched in the face by the driver after an argument over the fare, and said the assault left her fearful and scared to go out alone.

The attack took place when the model, who co-presented the Generation Game with former lover Jim Davidson, caught a mini-cab from a friend's flat after a meal out in Clapham.

"I didn't have any money, but my friend had an account with the local mini-cab firm," she told the Standard. "When the cab arrived, I explained that the journey would be on account and he appeared to understand."

However, on arrival at her flat near the Albert Bridge, Chelsea, the driver demanded to be paid in cash. She said: "I tried to explain but he hardly spoke English and he got more and more angry. We ended up having a big argument. I told him to call his control, but he refused.

Ms Corrigan fled from the car and ran to her flat. But half an hour later Ms Corrigan decided to take her dog Max for a walk. "It perhaps wasn't the best idea, but he was looking at me and I felt guilty," she said.

Less than two minutes from her flat, the cab driver appeared from behind bushes. She said: "He grabbed me by the cuff of my jacket and started pulling me backwards. I was tripping over. I didn't know what would happen if he dragged me into the bushes, so I turned around and grabbed him by the arm.

"It was then that he just seemed to lose it. He punched me full in the face on my nose. It just exploded with blood. It was like a fountain. " Ms Corrigan struggled free and ran back to her flat, where she called the police after the attack on 21 February.

A police spokeswoman said a 34-year-old man had been arrested and freed on bail.

New blitz on bogus cabbies