Thief Jailed For Cab Driver’s Terror Ride
Monday 24th August 2009
A thug who was part of a gang that forced a taxi driver to drive around for two hours and stole his mobile phone, has been jailed for two years.
Ayanle Adan, 23, of Westminster Drive, Southend, along with two other men, subjected the taxi driver to a traumatic time as he drove them from Forest Gate, in East London, to York Road, Southend.
The gang got into the cab in East London, stole the driver’s mobile phone and said he couldn’t have it back until he drove them to pick up alcohol and then took them home to Southend.
At Southend Crown Court, Judge Michael Brooke QC sentenced Adan to 18 months for the theft and activated six months of a suspended prison sentence, to run consecutively.
He said: “This was general bullying behaviour which made the victim drive these three men around East London looking for drink.
“The taxi driver was paid nothing and found the whole incident thoroughly traumatic. The circumstances of the case sound like more than just a theft. They drove this man round for two hours and kidnapped him in effect.”
Helen Chapman, prosecuting, said the theft took place on April 19.
During the ordeal, the taxi driver discreetly called police from another phone. Officers arrested the three men and found the phone in Adan’s trousers.
All three defendants were convicted following a trial at Southend Magistrates’ Court, but Adan was sentenced separately on Thursday.
Miss Chapman said: “This was quite traumatic for the taxi driver because he was so outnumbered.”
The court heard Adan, who has convictions dating back to 2001, breached a suspended 12-month prison sentence given to him on September 17, last year at Basildon Crown Court which lasted for 18 months.
He was convicted for beating up a man, who needed hospital treatment, and stealing £1,000 and a mobile phone from him in June 2008.
Rebecca Dix, mitigating, said Adan was a different character when he stole the driver’s phone.
She added: “He does show great remorse for what happens.
“When he drinks alcohol, it leads to him making very bad decisions and to committing crimes.”
After his prison sentence, Adan will be on licence for 12 months.
Source; Echo-News.co.uk
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