Passenger who held knife to Huddersfield minicab driver's throat is jailed for four years Leeds Crown Court heard today Alan Nawzad had collected Calvin Peter Crosse from outside HD Cars in Cross Church Street in the early hours of March 10
A minicab driver was subjected to a terrifying 30 minute ordeal when he was ordered to drive around Huddersfield after being threatened with a knife by a passenger who claimed to be a gangster.
Leeds Crown Court heard today Alan Nawzad had collected Calvin Peter Crosse from outside HD Cars in Cross Church Street in the early hours of March 10.
Crosse who sat in the front passenger seat, was bleeding from an injury on his left cheek and was eating a takeaway and drinking from a can. He was immediately aggressive towards Mr Nawzad calling him names and telling him he was “a gangster.”
But it was in Bradford Road when he saw a police van behind the minicab he suddenly produced a knife and held it to Mr Nawzad’s throat telling him to “drive”.
Martin Sharpe prosecuting said Mr Nawzad was directed to drive around the Fartown and Deighton areas fearing for his life. During the journey Crosse punched him to the back of his head and shoulders.
At one stage they saw the police van again and Mr Nawzad put on his hazard warning lights hoping to be spotted but was not seen.
Crosse told the driver to stop in Woodham Avenue where he said he was going to kill him but was then directed to drive off again.
Mr Sharpe said Crosse then suddenly pulled on the handbrake while the vehicle was moving causing it to spin. When it came to a halt he once more pressed the knife to the driver’s throat at which point the terrified Mr Nawzad said he would give him anything he wanted.
His passenger asked for money and after handing over £150 managed to get out the vehicle and flee after calling his base for help.
Mr Sharpe told the court Crosse also left the area but was linked by DNA to a can he left in the minicab and also through CCTV footage at a takeaway near the minicab firm where he was seen in a skirmish with another man outside causing his cheek injury.
Adam Birkby representing Crosse said he was under a suspended sentence at the time for driving offences and had panicked when he saw the police van thinking he might have breached that because of his earlier fight.
He had drunk a “staggering” amount and wanted to publicly apologise for his actions to the driver accepting he must have been terrified.
Crosse, 25 of Riddings Close, Sheepridge, was jailed for a total of four years three months after admitting having an offensive weapon, making a threat to kill, theft and breach of the suspended sentence.
Jailing him Judge Guy Kearl QC said the minicab driver was vulnerable because he was alone, simply doing his duty as a public servant.
Having told him where to go Crosse became abusive asking “if he knew” who he was and saying he was a gangster and then when he saw the police van producing a knife holding it to the driver’s throat and telling him to drive on.
“That was an incredibly dangerous thing to do. This ordeal lasted something like 30 minutes it must have seemed like an age to Mr Nawzad. He was no doubt terrified and believed you were going to use the knife put to his throat, on several occasions.”
source:
http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yor ... fe-6169338
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