Police appeal over Good Friday taxi fare incidentPOLICE are investigating after a taxi driver drove off with a passenger’s mobile phone following an argument over the fare. Just before midnight on Good Friday, April 8 the woman, in her 20s, was being dropped off by a taxi in Chester-le-Street after a night in Newcastle..
She told the driver that she did not have the full fare and asked to be driven to a relative's house to get more money.
But the driver refused, locked the taxi and demanded the woman's mobile phone in lieu of payment.
She eventually got out of the vehicle in Masefield, Chester-le-Street, and continued to argue with the driver.
He then drove off with her phone and has yet to be traced.
The taxi was a dark saloon that had picked up the fare at Newcastle’s Bigg Market.
Det Con Rachael Austin, of the Serious Crime Team at Chester-le-Street, said: "We've carried out a number of enquiries but still need to trace any witnesses who may have seen this altercation, either just before midnight on Good Friday, April 8, or in the early hours of April 9.
"We're also keen to speak to the taxi driver, as we try to establish exactly what happened that night."
Anyone with information is asked to call Durham Constabulary on the non-emergency number,101, and ask for the Serious Crime Team at Chester-le-Street.
Alternatively, they can ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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