Robber Stephen Rowland jailed after trying to flag down taxi driver he had just mugged Drunken Rowland appeared to forget he had just mugged the driver and hailed him for a lift 
MONG: Bungling robber Stephen Rowland, 30, caught after he tried to flag down cab driver he had just mugged
A dim-witted robber tried to flag down a taxi driver he had just mugged.
Stephen Rowland had terrorised the victim before robbing him of his takings.
The driver then pulled away, but Rowland was so drunk he seemed to forget what he had just done, and tried to hail the departing cab for a lift home.
This allowed the driver to stall Rowland until the police arrived and he was arrested.
He has now been jailed for 27 months at Manchester Crown Court after mugging his victim of £30.
The court heard the victim’s ordeal began after Rowland – of no fixed address – got into his car outside the Crown and Anchor in Ancoats at night and asked him to drive up Oldham Road to Miles Platting.
Stephen Rowland got into the taxi outside the Crown and Anchor in Ancoats
When the driver asked for a postcode, Rowland said: “You know what, don’t give me any bull****. I’m a United fan and my team lost today, just carry on and drive.”
The driver tried to get on the right side of Rowland by telling him that he too was a United fan, but was rewarded with abuse.
Concerned, the driver asked for the money upfront and was given £10.
But Rowland then continued to abuse the driver and refused to say where he was going.
Fearing he would be attacked, the man said: “Take your money, I don’t want to take you any more, I’m sorry’.
Rowland threatened to ‘smash’ him unless he carried on driving, leaving the victim ‘very scared indeed’.
On Oldham Road, opposite the Royal Mail depot, Rowland grabbed hold of the gear stick and tried to force the vehicle into reverse before taking a swing at the driver.
The driver managed to get control of the car and pulled over, pleading with him.
Rowland screamed ‘I will smash you’ and head butted him, keeping his head pressed against the terrified victim’s while he snatched £30 from his top pocket.
He then opened the car door, got out and kicked and punched the vehicle before walking away.
Then, as the victim’s car turned around, Rowland failed to recognise the cab he had just left and tried to flag it down.
The 30-year-old, who has 32 previous convictions, admitted robbery following the October 2013 incident.
Sentencing Rowland, whose lawyer appealed for a suspended sentence, Judge Patrick Field QC said: “A vulnerable victim was targeted – a taxi driver plying his trade at night.
"I take the view that this court must reflect that.”
source:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ar_twitter
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