Taxi Driver Online

Prison for man who robbed taxi driver using imitation gun


A 25-year-old who, along with his younger brother, robbed a taxi driver using an imitation gun has been sentenced to five years behind bars

A man who robbed a terrified taxi driver at gun point alongside his teenage brother has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Danny Young, 25, of Pine Walk, Surbiton, and Lenny Young, of Monument Way, Weybridge, robbed the man of his wallet and phone after pointing imitation pistols at his chest.

The pair were picked up by the victim, a taxi driver aged in his 30s, in Worcester Park on February 22 last year and taken to Stanton Close in Epsom at around 11.20pm where they robbed him.

Danny was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on Friday (January 17) after admitting robbery and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence in December, while Lenny, now aged 18, will be sentenced in March after pleading guilty to the same offences.

Prosecutor Rachel Davies said: "They [the imitation guns] were put against the chest of the victim by Danny Young and against the leg by Lenny Young.

"The taxi driver was directed down a dead end. He was on his own in the taxi and was inside when threatened."

Traumatised

Speaking on behalf of the older brother, Piers Wauchope said his client had a class A drug habit since he was 15 or 16 and wanted money for drugs.

"He wants to make it clear it was his idea," said Mr Wauchope. "He produced the firearms.

"He says he had no money on him when he got into the cab and got in with the intention of getting the driver to take them somewhere quiet where they could remove whatever money he had on him."

Sentencing Danny Young, Judge Peter Moss told the 25-year-old he had traumatised the taxi driver.

"He needed the money to look after his family," he said. "There wasn't violence but there didn't need to be because there was a firearm pointing at his chest.

"You then ran off threatening the driver that he should not call the police and not move."

Danny Young was sentenced to five years in prison, taking into account the six months he has already served having been remanded in custody since July.

However Judge Moss deferred sentencing Lenny after defence counsel, George Zachery, explained the teenager's home circumstances.

"The people who have been living with him, like his older brother, have not encouraged him to lead a positive life," he said. "He has not had opportunities other people his age have had in life."

'One last chance'

Mr Zachery explained how his father spent all the household money on alcohol.

"The best way forward in protecting Lenny from following the same route as his brother and father in future would be to give Lenny one last chance with the threat of custody if he doesn't take the help available," he told the court.

Lenny was subject of a supervision order with probation services but his motivation dropped after he was told he faced a likely custodial sentence for the robbery, the court heard.

Judge Moss said his report from probation made sad reading and he did not want to put him behind bars.

"You have shown little or no remorse because that's the way of life you know," he said.

Judge Moss gave Lenny until March 25 to complete his existing supervision order, saying he would "bend over backwards" to help him if he re-engaged but would send the 18-year-old to a young offender institution if he didn't.

"The deal I do with you is you re-engage with the probation service and you come back here without having been convicted of anything and that you provide some evidence you are working.," the judge said. "The best thing that can happen is you move away from your family, however much you love them, but they are bad news for you and they are bad news for everyone else.

"It's up to you where you want to go in your life but this is a crossroads for you."

Speaking afterward the hearing, DC Catherine Jenkin said: “The victim endured a terrifying ordeal at the hands of the Young brothers and no doubt this incident will stay with him for some time but I hope the sentence passed today will go some way to bring him closure."

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-n ... xi-6529138

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Not long enough in my view.

I remember about 25 years ago a mush down here getting 10 years for attempting to rob a Building Society with a stick in his pocket.

_________________
IDFIMH

Mother of armed taxi robbers cleared of perverting the course of justice



Donna Phillips was charged with one count of perverting the course of justice after her sons robbed a taxi driver - but the prosecution offered no evidence against her

The mother of two armed taxi robbers has been cleared of perverting the course of justice.

Donna Phillips' sons Lenny and Danny Young were convicted of robbing a taxi driver at gunpoint in Epsom on February 22 last year.

Ms Phillips, 44, of Monument Road, Weybridge, appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday (June 10) charged with one count of perverting the course of justice in connection with the offence.

But prosecutors offered no evidence and Ms Phillips was found not guilty of the charge.

Her sons robbed the cabbie of his wallet and phone after pointing imitation pistols at him.

Lenny, 18, of Monument Road, Weybridge, was given a two-and-a-half year supervision order at Guildford Crown Court on March 25 and was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service.

Danny, 25, of Pine Walk, Surbiton, was sentenced to five years behind bars on January 17.

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey- ... ed-7244875

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Why is the paper calling these chaps by their Christian names?

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin