Drug addict knifeman jailed for robbing taxi driver
Sep 6 2010
A crack addict who lured a taxi driver to a secluded road in Edgware before robbing him at knife point has been jailed for six years .
Tony Gritton, who has struggled with addictions to class A drugs since he was 13, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Friday afternoon (September 3) after being found guilty by a jury in April.
The court heard how the 25-year-old from Northfield Road, in neighbouring borough Barnet, and an accomplice who has never been caught, ordered the taxi driver to take them to a quiet service road in Edgware, on May 26, 2009, where they both pulled out knives.
His accomplice, who was in the back of the cab, withdrew a knife and held it to cabbie Rahel Noristani's throat before Gritton, sat in the passenger seat, held what is believed to be a six inch blade to his stomach.
They demanded the £100 cash and credit cards he had on him before swiping his sat nav from the glove compartment and fleeing towards the Stonegrove estate in Edgware, where Gritton had run to meet his girlfriend.
The court also heard that having been found guilty by a jury in April a warrant for his arrest was issued when Gritton failed to attend his initial sentencing date in July and was at large for around three months.
Jeffrey Israel, defending, also admitted that Gritton had no recollection of whether or not he finally handed himself over or was caught by police – because he was so heavily intoxicated on drugs at the time.
Sentencing Gritton Mr Recorder Peter Rouch QC said: "The offence that you committed was a very serious offence that has many aggravating features.
"It was planned, the taxi driver was alone and vulnerable and you took him to a quiet place determined to rob him.
"There was two of you that committed this offence, you both had knives and you both produced them.
"Also having granted you bail, despite my better judgement because of health problems, when you were due to turn up at court you didn't and absconded."
Source; http://www.harrowobserver.co.uk/west-lo ... -27211672/
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