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Cabbie fought robber
A BRAVE cabbie fought back when a robber tried to steal his takings. Daniel Phillips, 21, brandished a sharp garden tool as he demanded the Brighton and Hove taxi driver hand over the cash. Phillips shouted: "Give us the money now. You have got no ****ing choice."
But Kevin Fry, 51, a cabbie for 27 years, refused to give in and struggled with the robber until the younger man gave up and fled. At Lewes Crown Court Phillips was jailed for three and a half years after he admitted attempted robbery on the night of April 4.
Judge Richard Brown commended Mr Fry's outstanding bravery during the incident. He told Phillips: "Those who provide a service to the public, such as taxi drivers, are very vulnerable to attacks such as this. They are entitled to have any protection the courts can provide. Your actions have had a very dramatic effect on Mr Fry and his family's lives."
The court heard the terrifying robbery started after Mr Fry was called just after midnight to pick up a passenger in Birdham Road, Moulsecoomb. When he arrived, he suspected trouble as two men, one wearing a hoodie over his face, approached the driver's door.
Mr Fry, who works for Car Cabs, hit the central locking system but Phillips managed to get into the back of the vehicle where he began swiping at the driver with the metal tool, which had three sharp prongs one side and a flat blade on the other.
Mr Fry, who lives in Hove, drove off while Phillips, of Windsor Street, Brighton, demanded cash. The robbery was filmed on the taxi's internal CCTV which was shown to the court. Mr Fry can be seen refusing to hand over his takings despite Phillips' repeated violent threats.
Mr Fry stops the car and then turns in his seat towards Phillips. The two men are seen grappling before the younger man runs off. Mr Fry was unhurt but more than £1,000 of damage was caused to the seats and roof of the car by the weapon.
After the hearing Mr Fry said his life had been changed by the robbery and he no longer works at night. He said: "It was absolutely, horrifically terrifying. The flashbacks I get are pretty horrendous. The guy had an implement which could have killed me." He welcomed the length of the sentence and said he hoped it would send a message to other thieves.
He also hoped the case would help the public to understand what taxi drivers have to deal with. He said other drivers had decided not to work nights either in the aftermath of the shocking attack and this meant the public suffered because they faced delays when waiting for a cab. He said: "People need to understand the reasons why they have to wait for a taxi on wet Friday or Saturday nights."
Sarah Morris, defending, said Phillips, who has previous convictions for theft and threatening behaviour, had been drinking at the time. She said: "He feels real remorse. He feels very badly for his actions on that night and regrets them bitterly."
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