Taxi driver who brandished knife at passengers claimed it was for his 'own protection'https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... e-15018564Abdul Bandas 'brandished' the serrated kitchen blade at passengers when they threatened him in West DentonA cabbie caught carrying a blade in the footwell of his taxi claimed it was for his own ‘protection’.
Abdul Bandas pulled out the serrated kitchen knife and brandished it to three passengers, who had become abusive and threatening at the end of a fare, a court was told.
But it was the 40-year-old cab driver who ended up in court after the police were called to the scene on West Denton Way, in West Denton, Newcastle, and the weapon was seized.
Dad-of-four Bandas, who has never been in trouble before, has now been warned by a judge that he narrowly avoided going to jail after he admitted possessing a bladed article during a hearing at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
Giving him a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, District Judge Kate Meek said: “I think you know and I’m sure you have been told that the court treat offences of this nature seriously, whether or not you had intentions of using the knife.
“If a situation arises and gets out of hand, even with your best intentions, they can end up using knives and killing people or causing life-threatening injuries - that’s why it is an offence just to be in possession of one.
“While it was not used here and it was you being assaulted, you did actually brandish it rather than leave it on the floor. I think you know how serious it is and how difficult situation you’re in.”
Bandas, of Saltwell Road, Gateshead, had picked up a fare in the Fenham area on the evening of February 10 and driven three passengers to West Denton.
When he got to their destination, Bandas became suspicious that his passengers didn’t have the means to pay and they turned aggressive, threatening him with a bottle of alcohol, the court heard.
An altercation ensued and Bandas pulled out the knife, which had a 16cm blade, from the front passenger footwell.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said: “There’s no suggestion the defendant used the blade to threaten the passengers.”
Paul Harbison, defending, said Bandas had the knife as a deterrent for anyone who tried to assault him in his taxi.
The solicitor added: “He’s appalled at the situation he’s found himself in.
“He’s a taxi driver and has been for some years. During the course of that time, he has been the victim of numerous threats.
"One can only describe deciding to have the knife as a gross error of judgement.”
Bandas was also ordered to do 60 hours of unpaid work.
The court heard that Bandas has yet to inform the local authority of his conviction.
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