Heaton teen robber left taxi driver praying for his life during 'ferocious' attack
A taxi driver was subjected to a "ferocious" and terrifying robbery during which he was punched, kicked, throttled and racially abused.
Christopher Tams was already on a community order for supplying drugs when he targeted a cabbie who had picked him and a friend up in Newcastle.
Despite being told to take what he wanted by the frightened driver, Tams rained down punches and kicks, shouted vile racist insults and left him fearing death as he throttled him from behind. A court heard Tams told the driver, who prayed during the onslaught, "no-one is going to save you now, you are going to die".
Newcastle Crown Court heard the taxi driver was asked to pick up customers from The Metropolitan pub, in Newcastle, at around 5.30pm on December 18 last year and Tams was one of two men who got in. During a trip to the hostel where they were living, the cabbie felt intimidated by them.
When they got to the hostel, Tams asked the driver to wait but then came out and said he didn't need the taxi anymore and asked for the £10 which had been paid at the start of the journey to be handed back but was told the fare had already reached £8.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said: "The defendant became hostile and the driver was frightened and so returned the money. The defendant then proceeded to punch him to the face and demanded he hand over his takings for the evening.
"He handed over £40 and the defendant punched him again. He then got in the passenger seat and punched him again before getting out of the car, opening the driver's door and kicking him several times to the stomach."
Tams then got in the back of the car, shouting vile racist abuse and punched a plastic screen, causing damage. Mr Ahmad said: "He then grabbed him round the neck and pinned him to the side. He couldn't breathe."
The victim tried to drive a short distance, hoping he would get out but Tams then punched the car key, breaking it. The cabbie then ran from the car to seek help. He was left with a cut lip, bruising to his eye and a suspected broken rib.
The car was later found with liquid on the bonnet with a rag hanging out of the fuel tank but prosecutors could not prove who did that.
The taxi driver said in a victim impact statement: "The impact has affected every aspect of my life. I still feel very scared and keep getting flashbacks.
"I've been traumatised and I'm not sleeping well because I have nightmares. I honestly thought I was going to die when he was strangling me with the seatbelt.
"I prayed to Allah to save me and he said 'no-one is going to save you now, you are going to die.'"
He added that he was unable to work full time or help his wife with their three children as a consequence of what happened and added: "I would like the court to ask Christopher Tams why he attacked me when I told him to take anything he wanted and not physically assault me."
Tams, 19, of Simonside Terrace, Heaton, Newcastle, has nine previous convictions and was on a community order, imposed last November for supplying class A drugs, at the time. He was caught in a crackdown after students had died but there was no suggestion he sold any of the drugs that caused death.
He pleaded guilty to robbery and racially aggravated criminal damage and was jailed for three years. Recorder Brian Whitehead told him: "It involved quite ferocious violence, punching, kicking, shouting racial abuse then getting in the back and grabbing him round the neck so he couldn't breathe."
Jane Foley, defending, said he had a troubled upbringing, spent time in care and added: "He remembers very little about the events with which we are concerned.
"He is a vulnerable young man with a history of mental health problems associated with complex childhood trauma."
Tams himself added: "I'm horrified in myself and want to apologise to the court and to (the victim)."
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