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Taxi driver feared he would be killed during knifepoint robbery by two men he picked up in Gateshead
A taxi driver was left fearing he would be killed when he was robbed at knifepoint by two men he picked up. The worker for Dean Taxis collected the pair in Wardley, Gateshead, and they asked to be taken to a pub, putting £10 in the central console to cover the cost.
But after a few minutes, one of the men suddenly reached around the cabbie, brandished a long knife in his face and threatened to stab him if he didn't hand over money. While the unknown knifeman threatened him, accomplice Andrew Davidson searched the car for cash and valuables, a court heard.
Now Davidson, who admitted robbery, has been jailed for 45 months at Newcastle Crown Court.
Ian Cook, prosecuting, said the victim was left in fear for his life during the ordeal in April. "He describes being petrified," Mr Cook told the court. "The knife was held right in front of his face and he thought he was going to be stabbed..
"He says he's been a taxi driver for six years and this has never happened before. "He says they had no right to steal his property and make him think he would be killed for doing his job."
It was around 11.40pm on April 15 that the taxi was sent to Wardley to pick up Davidson and his mystery friend, who asked to be taken to The Eagle pub.
Mr Cook said: "After a few minutes he felt the unknown male reach around him and he noticed he had a knife. "He pulled it in front of his face and said 'give me your money or I will stab you'. "The unknown male held the knife in front of his face for 20 to 30 seconds. He said the blade was around 12 inches."
Davidson began searching for valuables and the taxi driver got out of the car and shouted for help. Then the unknown man shouted 'got it' and the pair ran off. They stole a Gucci bag containing £122, a mobile phone and a taxi data hub.
Police were called and went to a house where Davidson was and found him discarding the phone. They also discovered the bag but the money was missing. The court heard Davidson, 36, of Laney Gardens, Wardley, has 37 previous convictions and was on a suspended sentence at the time.
He pleaded guilty to robbery on the basis his accomplice ordered the taxi and that he was unaware of what was to happen or that his friend had a knife.
Judge Christopher Prince told him: "The taxi driver was petrified as a result of being threatened with a 12-inch knife. "The knife was held right in front of his face and he was petrified, he feared he would be killed doing his job. "You played a part in a very serious offence."
Rachel Hedworth, defending, said: "He did not get in the taxi with the intention of robbing this man. "He wants to address a drug problem that has been a problem for a very long time. "He is from a hard-working, decent family and he very much has become the black sheep of the family."
Miss Hedworth said Davidson had previously been in a car accident which left him with some damage to his brain and he had started using cannabis.
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