Passenger brandished huge knife at Birmingham taxi driver after row over £8 farehttps://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... m-23735098A Birmingham taxi driver was attacked and threatened with a large knife following an argument over a fare. The driver fled after fearing he was going to be stabbed.
Terhyus Farrell, 20, of Bantock Way, Harborne, who had previously admitted possessing a knife and making off without payment, was sentenced to 12 months detention suspended for two years and ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work.
The victim picked up the defendant and a female from an address in the city at around 8.15pm on December 28 2020 and took them to Kings Road, Erdington.
When the driver asked for an £8 fare the female passenger became agitated and attacked him from the rear seat, said George Heath, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court.
She grabbed him round the neck and he pressed a panic alarm although nobody arrived to help. He got out of the taxi but was then approached by Farrell who was about two metres away who produced a knife with a blade of about 30 centimetres.
"This caused him fear that he was going to be stabbed and his response was to flee," said Mr Heath. The pair then walked towards a house in Kings Road.
Farrell, who was not arrested until January this year, told police he carried a knife because of difficulties in his life and fear. He said he had no intention of using the knife on the victim but admitted he had not paid the fare.
In passing sentence Judge Sarah Buckingham said: "On December 28 you were carrying a large knife. You took it out when you got out of the taxi. You terrified a vulnerable man just doing his job who only wanted his £8 fare."
However she said she had taken into account that Farrell had not committed any other offences since 2018 and the length of time the case had taken to come to court. Matthew Cullen, defending, said Farrell needed help from probation and there was a positive side to his character.
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