Thug threatened taxi driver at knifepoint and 'bizarrely' demanded he took him to police custody suite
A thug who left a taxi driver 'fearing for his life' when he pulled out a knife has been jailed. Grant Wainwright demanded to be taken to a police custody facility during the 'bizarre' but 'harrowing' incident in Staffordshire.
Wainwright threatened the terrified driver with the weapon after getting into the vehicle on June 25. He ordered him to go to Staffordshire Police's northern area custody facility on Crown Street in Stoke-on-Trent.
When the taxi pulled up, Wainwright told the driver to use the intercom to tell officers he had been threatened by a man with a knife. Officers immediately detained the 31-year-old, who had got out of the vehicle and thrown the knife on the ground. The taxi driver was left shaken but unhurt.
A search of Wainwright revealed a quantity of cocaine. He was arrested and subsequently charged before being convicted on June 27.
Wainwright, of Cherry Grove, Blurton, was jailed for 18 months during a sentencing hearing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on July 28. He pleaded guilty to threatening a person with a knife and possession of class A drugs.
Speaking after the hearing, Sergeant Christopher Gifford, of Stoke North local policing team, said: “This was a bizarre and harrowing experience for the victim in this case who was understandably frightened for his life. I am glad Wainwright has received a custodial sentence for his threatening actions and hope this reassures the community that such an individual is now off our streets.”
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