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Army trio jailed over taxi attack
A HIGHLY promising soldier and two other ex-servicemen who robbed a taxi driver following a disagreement over the fare have each been given two-year prison sentences. A judge at Preston Crown Court said he felt compelled to jail the trio, despite 30 peas for leniency from villagers in Ribchester.
The taxi driver was petrified, fearing he would be killed, as he was punched, grabbed around the throat and had nearly £300 taken from him during his early morning ordeal at the hands of Martin Morrow, Jason Ormisher and Dale Gallagher to custody.
Morrow (23), who is based at Hook in Hampshire, Ormisher (23) of Church Street, Ribchester, and Gallagher (19), of Sarmatian Fold, Ribchester, all admitted robbery. The three defendants, plus two others, had been picked up outside Rendezvous nightclub in Whalley after 3 a.m. on May 27th.
Mr David Macro (prosecuting) said the taxi was a seven-seater vehicle and there was a discussion over the fare to Ribchester, which was £25 – £5 more than usual for four people. The price was agreed, but, in the words of the judge, the three defendants had ganged up on the driver.
"He had no idea what would befall him at journey's end," said the judge.
One of them grabbed the victim's mobile phone as he dialled 999 for help. Ormisher hit him in the face and Gallagher, who was sitting behind him, grabbed him around the throat with both arms.
Ormisher and Morrow demanded his money and the victim gave them his money belt containing £270. His ignition key was also taken. The prosecution said the defendants returned a short time later, asking for more money.
The driver suffered a cut to his inside top lip and his windpipe felt tender. There was also psychological trauma, with anxiety about his ability to carry on doing his job.
Mr Mark Stuart (defending) said Morrow was a Serviceman of considerable merit with exceptional Army references and had served in Iraq. "The offence was 15 or 20 minutes of appalling behaviour. At the end of the month he was meant to be going with his unit to Iraq. He has flown through the ranks and has the ability to reach the very top of his field."
Gallagher was a former Army Serviceman who was described as an extremely low risk of re-offending. Both had since stopped drinking.
Mr Joe Hart (for Ormisher) described what happened as 15 minutes of drunken, yobbish, loutishness. The motivation was a row about the fare, but it had not been premeditated. He too was an ex-Army man who had served in Iraq.
"He expresses remorse and recognises the harm his actions have done. He is devastated," added Mr Hart.
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