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Jail for Padiham man who attacked taxi driver
A DRUNKEN man who tried mug a taxi driver, terrorising him by repeatedly claiming he had a gun, has been jailed for 15 months. Burnley Crown Court heard how jobless Dominic McEvoy, 21, demanded cash from the cabbie and pulled his head back into the neck rest so he was struggling to breathe.
The victim managed to escape by grabbing McEvoy's fingers and pulling them. Outside the vehicle, the defendant gesticulated to the victim, saying: 'Come on then', as if wanting to fight. McEvoy then hit the cab with a bag and kicked the rear lights. He was arrested shortly afterwards.
The defendant, of Church Street, Padiham, admitted attempted robbery, last November 2. The hearing was told how just after 2am, McEvoy was bundled into the taxi by a friend, and the driver was told to take him to Padiham. The defendant told the victim to pull over near an alley.
As soon as he stopped, McEvoy put his hands and arms around the victim's neck and repeatedly demanded: "Give me your money. I have got a gun." The defendant had no previous convictions for violence.
Tim Brennand, for McEvoy, said he was a 'strapping lad' who had worked on a building site and could do unpaid work. It would give him the work ethic back and offer reparation. He said: "He knows that taxi drivers have to be protected by the courts and this type of loutish behaviour is serious because these people are vulnerable."
Sentencing, Recorder Paul O'Brien said he suspected the defendant was 'very, very drunk indeed' when he struck. He said: "There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that this crosses the custody threshold. “Your victim was a taxi driver and taxi drivers on their own are always vulnerable and they have to be protected."
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