...or, more accurately,
attempted to rob one of the drivers
Complete headbanger, though, but some interesting titbits in here
Burnley man jailed for robbing taxi driver at knifepointhttps://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/n ... nifepoint/
Image: Lancs Police/Lancashire TelegraphA man produced a knife and stole a car while out on a test drive before going on to rob two taxi drivers and assault a police officer.Burnley Crown Court heard how in November 2020, Mohammed Farook, of no fixed abode, went to Manchester to take a test drive out on a Seat Leon that was for sale for £1,495.
He arrived with another man around midnight and went for a drive with the seller.
Joe Boyd, prosecuting said a price was agreed and bank details were asked for before Farook’s friend said they would go and get some cash from Oldham.
Mr Boyd said: “The defendant then produced a knife and swung it at the seller just missing his arm, before leaving with the car.
“The car was later spotted on the M60 at 1.12am speeding at more than 70mph.
“Police gave chase and reached speeds of up to 140mph before the car made a U-turn and ended up driving down the wrong side of the carriageway into oncoming traffic on the M62.”
A few days later on November 4, Farook was in Burnley when he was picked up by a taxi driver at 4am.
Mr Boyd said: “He was initially respectful but when they reached the destination, he pulled a blade on the taxi driver and pointed it towards him, cutting him on the elbow and demanding he give him some money.
“In doing so he fell out of the car and the driver saw this as his chance to drive off.”
On November 6, a similar incident occurred when Farook, again in Burnley, was picked up by a different taxi driver.
Mr Boyd told the court he tried to get the driver to take him down an unlit narrow lane, but he refused and instead they ended up in a cul-de-sac which is where Farook grabbed the taxi driver round the neck and put his hands round his throat.
Mr Boyd went on: “He demanded money from him and took a small purse which contained around £200.
“The defendant was linked to both cases by the phone he used to call the taxis with.”
The court heard how not long after, Farook was caught shoplifting in Burnley.
He tried to run from the police and ended up on the roof of Burnley College where he stayed for four hours, with police and fire crews attending the scene.
Upon coming down he was arrested, and police discovered he was wanted for the robberies and the Manchester offences.
Farook, of Burnley, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, possession of a bladed article, two counts of possession of an offensive weapon, attempted robbery and robbery.
He was also sentenced for the assault of an emergency worker which took place in July 2022 while he was on bail, where he was caught in Preston trying to get into a property and was seen on CCTV with a knife.
He was found hiding in some bushes and when he stood up a knife fell out of his pocket.
Mr Boyd went on: “He was frothing at the mouth and appeared to be on something and was kicking, punching and headbutting the police van while sat in the back.
“He threatened to shoot an officer and punched one in the face.”
Farook, 23, has 39 convictions for 94 offences.
Defending, Jane Dagnall said her client had had a truly “rubbish” upbringing, laced with trauma and abuse and had been let down by his family and the system.
He was jailed for six years and seven months and banned from driving for 51 months.
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