Grimsby robbery gang sentenced to 21 years behind bars after terrified taxi driver left with broken armA TAXI driver was left terrified after a gang of five – armed with bolt croppers – smashed their way into his car and robbed him.
Grimsby Crown Court heard Jonathan Smith suffered blows to his head and a broken arm after the gang surrounded his taxi in Orwell Street, Grimsby, around 3am on March 6 – escaping with no more than £40.
Mr Smith was approached in the car park as he waited for a fare.
Daniel Trushell, 26, Thomas Stuart, 19, Bethany Woolliss, 20, and Kelli-Joanna Ruthven-Dickinson, 23, all admitted robbery, while a fifth man, Paul Woodhouse, 24, was found guilty after a trial.
Sentencing the gang to a combined 21 years in jail, Judge Peter Clark described Mr Smith as a "vulnerable" victim, sitting in his car surrounded by five attackers. Trushell was jailed for five-and-a-half years, Stuart six years, Woodhouse five years, Woolliss two years and Ruthven-Dickinson was locked up for two-and-a-half years.
The court was shown CCTV footage of the attack, which saw Mr Smith taking five or six blows to the head. During the attack he handed over a coin holder, before he was able to radio for help and another taxi driver came to his aid.
The second driver helped him back to Links Taxis in Kent Street, Grimsby, but he was left both physically and psychologically scarred.
Reading his victim impact statement, prosecutor, Nicoleta Alistari said he suffered panic attacks and depression.
The five had all been living at an address in Duke Street, Grimsby, organised by charity Stepping Stones to assist ex-offenders.
However, Ms Alistari told the court just a few hours after the attack Woolliss had attempted to steal the hand bag of Elizabeth Summers as she walked alone in Victor Street, Grimsby.
The court also heard details of a separate attempted robbery by Stuart on February 28 at 3am – in which he also targeted a taxi driver – holding Christopher Allen around his neck and demanding money.
Again the incident was captured on CCTV.
For Trushell, Simon Hirst said his client accepted his role in the attack.
For Woolliss, Richard Hackfath said his client was "not the ring leader" and had not used violence.
He said she had a troubled background and had fallen into a cycle of prostitution to feed her drug habit, but was being helped by a charity supporting ex-offenders, adding she had lived in a Stepping Stone property after being released from prison for an earlier offence.
Noel Philo, representing Stuart, said his client had not used a weapon but admitted using his fists repeatedly. He said the offence was "outside anything he had done before".
For Ruthven-Dickinson, Craig Lowe said: "It was not her idea. Her role was rather limited. She did not use violence."
He told how she did not profit from the proceeds of the robbery and added she was ashamed and remorseful.
For Woodhouse, Andrew Bailey said his client had not used the weapon.
After the hearing, chairman of North East Lincolnshire's Hackney Carriage Association David Atkin said: "I am pleased they were caught and got their just desserts.
"Unfortunately targeting of taxi drivers is something that goes on. It is a sad reflection of the times.
"We always advise drivers to report incidents so police can see if there is a pattern emerging.
"We support one another as best we can and it is important to remain vigilant and report incidents to the police straight away."
Read more:
http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/gang- ... z3FXSApKmD
Login
Register
FAQ
