The affable 58-year-old is back behind the wheel of his trusty taxi after conquering the physical and emotional demons of a horrific late-night robbery and assault.

Les was bashed by the passengers he was driving from Taree to Wingham at midnight on April 23. He was punched repeatedly in the head and a knife was used to sever tendons and nerves in his hand. His vehicle was stolen and later found abandoned in bushland near Cedar Party.

It was an incident that shocked the Wingham community, and threatened to end Les’ days as a taxi driver.

But according to Les, there was never any question of throwing in the towel.

“Getting back behind the wheel, it was a decision I had to make,” he said. “I was not going to let (the assault) stop me from doing what I love to do. I had to prove it to myself. ”

Les is a builder by trade, but has been driving with Wingham Taxis since December last year. Prior to that, he spent two and a half years travelling to Newcastle on weekends to drive for his brother’s taxi company. He loves what he does.

“It’s the variety of people you get to meet and talk with,” Les said. “The conversations you have with your passengers are amazing. You can talk about anything. Politics, life . . . you meet some interesting characters.”

The April 23 assault is currently in the hands of Taree detectives. No-one has been charged with the crime yet.

The Chronicle understands that Les picked up several passengers from a Woola Road address in Taree at 12am on April 23. The passengers then asked to be driven to Wingham.

The passengers told Les to pull over in front of the Wingham Pool. Les was punched in the head a number of times. One of the offenders held a knife to his throat. Les attempted to push the knife away. The blade severed tendons in his hand. Les stumbled out of the vehicle.

The perpetrators fled the scene in the stolen taxi.