The Waterside man, who has requested to remain anonymous, says he picked up a man and a young woman on Strand Road in the early hours of Saturday morning before driving to Drummard Park in Hazelbank where the incident is alleged to have occurred.

Police have since recovered a knife from the area.
The 30-year-old taxi driver says the couple, who were both wearing parka-type jackets, asked him to pull over before the woman lunged at him with a knife, piercing his clothing and leaving him with bruising to his chest.

The man's wife, who contacted the "Journal", said: "My husband told me that they both looked as if they were on drugs and were acting quite strange in the car.

"He stopped the car, asked for the £3 fare and then she pulled out a bread knife and went for him over the front seat, there was a struggle before the two of them ran off.

"She stabbed through his clothes and then tried to twist the knife. What type of person does that?

"I dread to think what would have happened if he had not been wearing a jacket, two jumpers and a thick shirt.

"I have no idea why they did this, they didn't try and steal anything. He had his sat nav and all his money sitting there."

The taxi driver's wife said her husband chased after his attackers.

"They ran behind the pensioner's houses and he went after them out of adrenalin. He then realised that they could have been looking to kill him and stopped.

"Other taxi drivers need to know that this is happening. It is hard to believe that it was a young girl who attacked him.

"My husband has been taxiing for five years and now he is looking for something else."

Police are appealing for anyone who has information about the attack to contact them on 0845 600 8000.