Thug gave his name before trying to rob taxi driverA TAXI passenger who gave his name and asked to be dropped in his home village before trying to rob the driver on arrival has been jailed for ten months.
Benjamin Davies flagged down the cab near Sniperley Park and Ride site, off the A167 in Durham, asking to be driven the near eight-mile journey to Thornley, at 8.50am on Saturday, November 15.
Durham Crown Court heard that he told the eastern European driver he had no money on him, but would pay on arrival, handing over his mobile phone and watch as a surety.
As the taxi entered Thornley, Davies told the driver if he had any problems in the area to ask for him, giving his name.
Dan Cordey, prosecuting, said Davies asked to be dropped in the village High Street and, on being told the fare was £17.50, he replied: “How much do you owe me?”
The bemused driver said he owed him nothing, but Davies threatened to bite his nose off and “smash his head in” if he did not empty his pockets.
As the driver got out of the car, Davies smashed an in-cab camera, not realising there were others operating, recording his actions.
Mr Cordey said when Davies got out of the car, the driver jumped back in and locked himself in, for protection.
Davies, who had retrieved his phone and watch, then made off with the car keys.
Mr Cordey said when he was later arrested, Davies made full admissions and unsuccessfully tried to retrieve the keys, which he claimed to have discarded in his sister’s garden.
He told police he was “off his head” on drink and cocaine when he took the taxi, but said he was, “a different person”, when he was not intoxicated.
Davies conceded he did not know how he was going to pay the fare, and, as a last resort, acted like he did on reaching Thornley, but he offered to pay for the £217.50 damage caused to the car.
The court heard that he a few previous convictions, including carrying an offensive weapon and causing grievous bodily harm.
Davies, 27, of Hillsyde Crescent, Thornley, admitted charges of robbery, damaging property and making off without payment.
Annelise Haugstad, mitigating, said although force was threatened, none was used, and the only property taken were the keys.
She added that Davies has taken steps to put his drug misuse behind him.
Judge Simon Hickey said it was a serious offence, involving a “vulnerable victim”, a man working on his own, who must have been highly fearful during the ordeal.
source:
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/l ... 1733277._/
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