Ex-soldiers jailed over taxi driver robbery
20 October 2007
Two ex-Army men who viciously attacked and robbed a petrified taxi driver in a row over a fare have been jailed.
Jason Ormisher, 23, punched the cabbie in the face while Dale Gallagher, 19, grabbed him round the throat during the early-morning incident in May this year.
Both Ormisher – who served in Iraq – and Gallagher were jailed for two years.
Recorder Stephen Dodds told them: "I am driven to the conclusion that the public would think that the courts had taken leave of their senses or that I had taken leave of mine if I didn't pass a sentence which is merited by the disgraceful behaviour you engaged in that night."
Ormisher, of Church Street, Ribchester, and Gallagher, 19, of Sarmatian Fold, Ribchester, pleaded guilty to robbery.
A third defendant, Martin Morrow, 23, of Hook, Hampshire, was also jailed for two years after admitting the same charge.
Preston Crown Court heard how the trio, plus two others, had been picked up outside the Rendezvous nightclub in Blackburn at 3am on May 27.
There was a discussion over the fare to Ribchester which was £25 – £5 more than normal for four people. The price went on to be agreed.
In the words of the judge, the three defendants had gone on to gang up on the driver.
They had discussed what to do and the victim became petrified.
One of them grabbed the victim's mobile phone when he dialled 999 for help.
Ormisher hit him in the face and Gallagher, who was sat behind him, grabbed him around the throat with both arms in a bear hug.
Ormisher and Morrow got out, went to his door and demanded his money.
The victim gave them his money belt containing £270 cash. His
ignition key was also taken.
The prosecution said the defendants returned a short time afterwards, asking for
more money.
The driver suffered a cut to his inside top lip and his windpipe felt tender.
In addition there was psychological trauma, with anxiety about his ability to carry on doing his job in future.
Gallagher was a former soldier who was described as an extremely low risk of re-offending.
Joe Hart, for Ormisher, described what happened as 15 minutes of "drunken, yobbish, loutishness".
The motivation was a disagreement about the fare, but what happened had not been premeditated.
Mr Hart said: "He expresses remorse and recognises the harm his actions have done. He is devastated."
Judge Dodds told them: "The village of Ribchester could hardly have stood behind you better than it has.
"Your behaviour in the journey and on arrival in Ribchester was disgraceful and unforgiveable.
"The three of you behaved in a crazy manner, utterly and completely out of character."
Source: Lancashire Evening Post
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