Taxi Driver Online

Three in custody after taxi driver 'assaulted and cash stolen' in 3am Shieldfield robbery

Three men suspected of robbing a taxi driver were arrested after a witness guided police to their hiding spot - from the comfort of his flat.

The driver was left "shaken" after the men allegedly assaulted him in Shieldfield before fleeing on foot with cash.

However police swooped after the onlooker - himself a former taxi driver - acted as the police's "eye in the sky" and guided officers on the ground to the suspect's whereabouts over a 999 call.

Police have now praised his actions, while all three suspects remain in custody.

And the man who helped with the arrests has revealed he was still "half asleep" when the drama unfolded near his flat in the early hours of Monday.

"I was in bed at about 3am when all of a sudden I heard all of this yelling and a commotion outside," claimed the man, who asked not to be identified

"After it all happened, I saw two people dive down a cut and then they jumped over a fence. The police then came into the street with force - vans, cars - the lot. There were at least four panda cars and about a dozen officers.

"But when they were looking for them, I could see two people trying to run off.

"I was on the 999 call, still half asleep, but I was relaying it all to the police.

"I was just trying to tell them exactly where they were. At one point I was saying they are in a back garden... then they'd cut into another street.

"I had quite a view being so high up - it wasn't quite a helicopter job but I was the eyes in the sky, and I could tell them where they had disappeared and where I thought they were going to come out."

Eventually his directions helped officers track them down, and the suspects were handcuffed and taken into custody.

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Chief Inspector Alan Pitchford has praised the onlooker's actions, claiming it was a "fantastic piece of teamwork" to help bring three suspected robbers into custody.

"I want to thank the member of the public who witnessed this robbery and did not hesitate to contact police.," he added.

"Not only did he quickly alert us to the incident but he stayed on the line and provided updates with the locations of the suspects.

"It shows the fantastic community spirit that we have in this region and shows that residents will not tolerate this type of violence in their community.

"We will continue to work together to make our streets a safer place to live and to arrest those suspected of carrying out offences of this nature.”

Northumbria Police say the incident occurred at around 3.15am in Shield Street. The force say the taxi was reportedly damaged during the alleged robbery.

"(The driver) was not seriously injured but was very shaken by the incident," added a force spokesperson.

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IDFIMH

well done that man

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Three in court accused of stealing cash from taxi driver in 3am Shieldfield robbery

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... h-18825585 (photos of the alleged in article)

Three men have appeared in court accused of robbing a taxi driver in the early hours of the morning in Newcastle.

Gary Spencer, Andre Ansell and Sean Westerby were in the dock separately on Tuesday after being suspected of stealing cash and keys from the victim on a road in Shieldfield.

The trio were arrested after an onlooker allegedly directed police to their hiding place, which he could see from his flat.

Spencer, 26, of Pandon Court, Shieldfield, Ansell, 30, of Simonside House, Heaton, and Westerby, 19, of Wilfred Street, Byker, appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court having each been charged with one count of robbery.

Spencer also faced a further count of assaulting an emergency worker, while Westerby faced one of criminal damage after allegedly damaging the victim's taxi.

Because of the seriousness of the robbery offence, no pleas were take during the short hearing and each defendant spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

Lee Poppett, prosecuting, said the taxi driver was allegedly targeted by the three men at around 3am on Monday, August 24.

He added: "The matter is indictable only, so can only be heard at the crown court, so the Crown would invite you to send it there in due course."

Micahel Gibson, for Ansell and Westerby, and David Parish, for Spencer, made no representations.

All three defendants were released on conditional bail to next appear at Newcastle Crown Court on September 22.

The conditions included abiding by an electronically-monitored curfew, not contacting each other or prosecution witnesses and not using any private hire or Hackney taxi.

Deputy District Judge Wajid Khalil said: "The matter you face can only be heard at the crown court, so I'm sending you there.

"You will appear at Newcastle Crown Court on September 22 at 10am. In the meantime, you are on conditional bail."

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IDFIMH

Got off lightly, these knackers


Taxi driver attacked, told he would be shot then stolen from in 'terrifying' ordeal in Shieldfield

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... 1640818014

Three men have been sentenced for their part in targeting a taxi driver for his takings in Shieldfield


Sean Westerby (left), Gary Spencer (centre) and Andre Ansell (right) (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

A taxi driver was subjected to a terrifying ordeal at the hands of three thugs in which he was told he would be shot if he didn't hand over his takings.

Gary Spencer lured a cab to his home using a false name then went out with Sean Westerby and Andre Ansell to steal from the driver. CCTV in a lift shows them "bouncing" around, seemingly under the influence of something, with Spencer motioning as if to headbutt and Westerby punching his hand. [Visit website for very clear images of the threesome in a lift.]

Newcastle Crown Court heard it on August 24 2020 that Spencer rang for a taxi to his home in Shieldfield, Newcastle, around 3am. The taxi driver was waiting outside in his silver car when he became aware of three men approaching it and two of them, Ansell and Westerby, quickly got in the back.

Spencer tried to get in the front but the door was locked. When the driver put the window down to say he couldn't sit in the front due to covid rules, Spencer reached in through the window and unlocked the door and got in. Jane Foley, prosecuting, said Westerby then got out of the back while Spencer calmly said to the driver: "Give me money. We are dealing cocaine. I will shoot you."

She added: "Spencer took hold of the handbrake and pulled it so it couldn't be released and Westerby began kicking the vehicle, causing damage. Spencer punched the driver to the back of the neck before reaching across him and opening the driver's door. He repeated his demand for money, saying 'give me money or I will shoot you'."

The cabbie handed over £80 in notes and Spencer also took £10 in coins from the central console. Meanwhile Westerby further kicked and hit the car and stole his keys.

A witness contacted police and they found Spencer and Ansell hiding in a nearby garden. Spencer refused to hand over his phone and kicked an officer in the groin and Ansell was found to have a screwdriver and the car keys.

The court heard some £850 damage was caused to the taxi and the driver lost three days of takings, amounting to £300. He also lost the £90 which was stolen.

Spencer, 28, of Pandon Court, Shieldfield, Newcastle, who has 47 previous convictions, Answell, 23, of Tyneside Foyer, Newcastle, who has seven previous convictions and Westerby, 20, of Church Walk, Walker, who has two previous convictions, were originally charged with robbery but prosecutors accepted their guilty pleas to affray and theft. Spencer also admitted assaulting a police officer and Westerby pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

Spencer was jailed for 21 months, Westerby got 21 month suspended for two years with 80 hours unpaid work and Ansell got 19 months suspended for two years with 80 hours unpaid work.

Judge Julie Clemitson said to have one man kicking his driver's door and window while another sat beside him calmly threatening to shoot him would have been frightening. She added: "I've no doubt he would have been terrified out of his wits with three men, apparently under the influence of drugs, demanding money and threatening his life.

"He was targeted for his cash on the basis he was vulnerable. This was a very serious attack on a lone taxi driver who was lured to an address in the middle of the night when he was at his most vulnerable and he was subject to violence, threats to shoot him and had money stolen."

Nick Peacock, for Spencer, said it was a "nasty incident" which escalated due to him consuming alcohol and cocaine. He said he has been working as a chef in North Shields and was petrified of going to custody.

Nick Cartmell, for Ansell, said: "He is very very sorry for the role he played. He didn't inflict violence, he picked up some keys lying on the ground and walked away. He accepts joint responsibility and is truly contrite."

Brian Hegarty, for Westerby, said: "This was an unpleasant incident and he regrets his involvement in it. He has given up alcohol completely and has given himself up to a regime of health and fitness."