Drug user 'held cabbie at knifepoint' in robbery bid A TAXI driver feared for his life after he was held at knifepoint during a latenight attempted robbery, a court was told.
The alleged attack took place in Winshill at around 11pm on Monday night, when Farooq Hussain was responding to a call near Buckingham Court, in Hawfield Lane.
Burton Magistrates’ Court heard Mr Hussain’s account of the horrifying ordeal.
He said he was approached by Amanda Kirby, 32, of Salisbury Avenue, who leaned into the car.
He said he assumed that the woman was about to ask him a question, but she reached for the driver’s car keys.
When Mr Hussain attempted to stop her, grabbing her wrist, Kirby, who suffers from bipolar disorder, said she had a knife and threatened to stab him, it was alleged.
She was then said to have pulled out a four-inch kitchen knife and held it to Mr Hussain’s chest, demanding money.
Emma Thompson, prosecuting at Burton Magistrates Court, alleged: “She requested someone older to pick her up as she said she doesn’t like young drivers.
“Mr Hussain said the knife was put between his chest and the steering wheel with the tip of the knife facing him. She shouted ‘give me your money’, which she said she needed for drugs.
“He was scared. He didn’t know what she was going to do.”
It was that point that the situation allegedly escalated further. Mr Hussain’s foot slipped off the brake of his Fiat taxi which began to roll backwards, hitting railings behind.
He attempted to seize the opportunity to escape, pushing Kirby away from the car, but noticed his keys had been snapped out of the ignition, the court was told.
Rather than leave the area, Mr Hussain called the police and followed his alleged attacker in an attempt to retrieve his keys.
It was claimed Kirby continued threats to stab Mr Hussain and shouted at him to give her money.
By the time the police had arrived at the scene, Kirby had returned home, magistrates heard.
Officers claimed that she came to the door holding a razor blade to her wrist and initially resisted arrest, threatening to kill herself, holding the blade to her neck.
Kirby was described in court as a regular self-harmer and drug-user.
Her solicitor Sonia Lawrence said she did not feel it was appropriate to enter a plea to charges of attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon due to her mental health issues, but it was widely accepted by all that Kirby would receive a ‘significant’ custodial sentence.
Mrs Lawrence said: “She hasn’t got a list of previous convictions and I think it is clear she has significant issues. She suffers from bipolar disorder and was in hospital at St George’s in Stafford last weekend.
“She understands she will appear at crown court and is likely to be in custody for a considerable amount of time.”
Kirby was remanded in custody until Monday, when she is due to appear at Stafford Crown Court.
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Drug-u ... 092012.htm
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