Another utter crazy in the north east, but this time it's not the driver
Not often incidents of this type include threats to kill other people, though, but other than that it's reasonably typical of the genre
Armed attacker threatened to kill terrified Middlesbrough taxi driver and his family
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... i-32715174
Wakahs Nawaz was given an extended sentence for his crimes after a judge deemed him a 'real and serious risk'
Image: Teesside Live/Cleveland Police
A taxi driver was told he would be killed and "buried" by a knife-wielding thug who also threatened to kill his family. Wakahs Nawaz turned on the driver on May 3 this year. He punched the terrified cabbie in the head and produced a knife, threatening to stab him.
Nawaz was handed an extended jail sentence of six years at Teesside Crown Court for the offences which left the driver fearing for the safety of his family. A judge told Nawaz she considered him "a real and serious risk" of similar offending.
Rachel Butt, prosecuting, told the court how the driver was called to a job to collect Nawaz from the Longlands Hotel on Marton Road at 2.45am. The intended destination was Linthorpe Road.
While intoxicated on drink or drugs, the court heard Nawaz got into the front seat and an unknown man got into the back. The taxi driver recognised Nawaz as a former resident on his street.
"The defendant spoke with him in a conversational tone referring to him as 'uncle' as well as referring to the family," said Ms Butt. Nawaz said he wanted to go to Linthorpe Road, then Carlow Street and back to the hotel but had no money and wanted to stop at a cash machine.
The taxi driver drove him to a cashpoint on Longlands Road where Nawaz said his card was not working. "He then got back into the vehicle and became aggressive and accused [the victim] of sleeping with his mother," said Ms Butt.
"He then made a threat to stab and kill not only him but his children and his mother. The defendant then proceeded to punch [the victim] to the left side of his head with his fist, causing him to feel dazed, confused and scared."
Nawaz then produced a four-inch knife and threatened to stab and kill the victim "and said he would be buried today", Ms Butt told the court. The taxi driver tried to get out and was held back by Nawaz.
When Nawaz told him he had lost his keys in the car, the taxi driver pulled over. "The victim saw an opportunity to escape when Nawaz started chasing him, while threatening to stab him and rape his daughter," said Ms Butt.
Nawaz then drove off in the driver's car towards Southfield Road. Inside was a car key and mobile phone belonging to the victim. Another taxi driver stopped and helped the victim contact police. The mobile phone was tracked to Carlow Street where Nawaz was arrested.
The victim said in a statement he had been living in fear for himself and his family since the horrific attack. "He made threats towards me and my family," he said.
"I work through the night leaving my wife and my child at home alone. He made threats with a knife towards me and this has caused me to think about this all the time.
"I honestly believe if I had not got out of the taxi when I did he would have stabbed me." The court heard Nawaz had 23 previous convictions from 43 offences which include battery, causing actual bodily harm and inflicting grievous bodily harm.
In June 2024, he was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for harassment and a racially-aggravated public order offence. He was still on licence for these offences when he committed his latest crimes.
The court heard that a pre-sentence report included claims that Nawaz had also made threats to kill his own mother and brother. "His probation officer was also subjected to threats to kill against her and her family," said Judge Joanne Kidd.
In relation to the May 3 offences, Nawaz pleaded guilty to making threats to kill, assault by beating, possession of a blade in public, stealing a motor vehicle and theft from a person. Laura Miller, defending, noted he had made an early guilty pleas saving the victim from having to give evidence at a trial.
Judge Kidd said until Nawaz abides by a drug-free lifestyle she considers him to be "a real risk and serious risk of harm" of specified offences. She imposed an extended sentence of four years in custody with two years on extended licence.