Not much news around this week apart from the Scottish stuff and the 'free cabs to the Covid jabs' articles, but normal service very much resumed here
48-year-old, too - a bit older than the usual for this kind of stuff
And, despite being a career criminal and drug addict, looks like he's only just turned to violence
Robber hits taxi driver on head with a hammer during a 'six day bender'https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news ... ad-4905972Jason Neal wanted the cabbie's cash to buy more drink and drugs because he felt he wanted to end his life 'on a high'
Image: Leicester MercuryAn attacker high on drink and drugs hit a taxi driver on the head with a hammer before robbing him of cash to fund a 'six day bender.'
Jason Neal deliberately directed the unsuspecting cabbie to a remote spot at Loughborough's Park Road cricket ground to carry out the daytime attack.
The 48-year-old later pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an offensive weapon on the afternoon of Sunday November 22.
It was the same day Leicestershire Police published an appeal for information on Neal's whereabouts, with his photograph, due to concerns for his welfare at that time.
Leicester Crown Court was told the defendant was on early release licence from a two year and 10 month sentence for a robbery at a newsagents in Loughborough, when the cashier was threatened with a hammer.
Andrew Howarth, prosecuting, said the latest incident happened when a self-employed taxi driver picked Neal up in Loughborough, at 1pm.
Neal's hoodie was pulled over his head and he was wearing a surgical mask.
The defendant initially asked to go to Moor Lane, in Loughborough, but then redirected him to the cricket ground.
On the way he confirmed that the driver could change a £20 note, to [edited by admin] check the cabbie had cash on him.
It was the same day Leicestershire Police published an appeal for information on Neal's whereabouts, with his photograph, due to concerns for his welfare at that time.
Leicester Crown Court was told the defendant was on early release licence from a two year and 10 month sentence for a robbery at a newsagents in Loughborough, when the cashier was threatened with a hammer.
Andrew Howarth, prosecuting, said the latest incident happened when a self-employed taxi driver picked Neal up in Loughborough, at 1pm.
Neal's hoodie was pulled over his head and he was wearing a surgical mask.
The defendant initially asked to go to Moor Lane, in Loughborough, but then redirected him to the cricket ground.
On the way he confirmed that the driver could change a £20 note, to [edited by admin] check the cabbie had cash on him.
Mr Howarth said: "As the victim turned into the driveway, he felt a blow to the left side of his head."
He stopped and turned to see the defendant holding a hammer, with a foot long wooden handle, and tried to grab it but the defendant pulled it away and said 'I want the money.'
The driver handed over a linen bag containing between £25 and £30 but the defendant asked "where's the rest of it?"
He was told that was all there was.
The injured cabbie driver got out and shouted for help but no-one was around.
Neal eventually made off into nearby bushes leaving his partner's mobile phone and a scarf, with his DNA on, in the taxi.
The cabbie drove a safe distance before calling the police and went to hospital to have his cut head treated.
Meanwhile the police were appealing for information on Neal's whereabouts, stating that he had last been seen in the Cemetery Road area of Sileby, in the early evening.
However, the court heard he was arrested at hospital the following day, where he was claiming to be the victim of an assault.
In interview he said he had been on a "six day bender" and had little memory of events.
In a victim impact statement the taxi driver said he had a week off work recovering on painkillers and although the amount of money taken was small, he struggled to replace it as business was down due to coronavirus.
"He felt scared it would happen again and was wary of certain customers, and had made inquiries about alternative employment," said the prosecutor.
Sentencing, Judge Philip Head said: "You have 71 offences on your record, overwhelmingly for dishonesty and I'm confident most of those were due to drug addiction.
"This involved significant planning and the victim was directed to an isolated location.
"In 2018 you threatened the use of a hammer in a shop robbery.
"On this occasion you used a hammer to hit your driver who was providing a public service.
"You were intoxicated or drugged, or both.
"You targeted a vulnerable person because taxi drivers are known to have money on them and they work alone."
James Varley, mitigating, said Neal started out with good intentions following his last release on licence and "worked well" with the probation service, but the onset of the pandemic meant he had less support, exacerbated by an adverse reaction to prescribed epilepsy medication that made him aggressive.
It affected his relationship with his partner and he came to the conclusion he was "a burden" having let everyone down and was in a poor mental state.
Mr Varley said: "He decided to rob the taxi driver to get money to 'go out on a high' because he felt he had nothing left to live for.
"Since the robbery he's ended up back in jail.
"He says 'All I've done is let people down, my victims, my partner, family and friends and it's surprising he has such victim awareness.
"He wants to come out and stay out of trouble."
Neal was jailed for four and a half years.
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