JUST DESERTS
SIX YEARS’ JAIL FOR VIOLENT THUG WHO PUNCHED MIDDLESBROUGH CABBIE THEN STOLE HIS CAB
A violent assault has left a taxi driver traumatised and a young woman with severe injuries. Owen Harris, 21, from Middlesbrough pleaded guilty
to robbery and
wounding with intent following a series of shocking incidents. The ordeal began in April last year when Harris, under the influence of drugs and alcohol, flagged down a taxi expecting to collect six passengers. The driver wound down his window to check that Harris was the person who had booked him.
Harris leaned into the driver’s win- dow, grabbed his clothing, sparking fear of an attack. The driver fled on foot, but Harris chased him down the street and punched him twice before stealing his taxi. The stolen car was later recovered by police, but the attack left the driver with lasting emotional scars. He now suffers from anxiety and PTSD, fearing for his safety and
struggling to return to work.
Damage to his car further com- pounded his financial hardship. While on bail, Harris’s violent be- havior escalated with his then- girlfriend, culminating in him attacking her, fracturing her eye socket, nose and wrist. The victim continues to deal with the physical and emotional trauma. Harris was sentenced to six years in prison, serving four years mini- mum, He will also face a lifetime restraining order to protect his former girlfriend.
BELFAST MAN JAILED FOR 12 MONTHS FOR ATTEMPTED ROBBERY OF TAXI DRIVER
A North Belfast man, Ruairi Fintan Muldoon, 31, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison with an additional 12 months on super- vised release for a botched attempt to rob a taxi driver. The court heard that in May 2023, Muldoon took a taxi and after exiting the vehicle asked to
change a £20 note but on seeing the driver’s
limited change, he
tried to steal the money box. The taxi driver, fearing for his life, reported punches thrown and threats from Muldoon before he fled the scene empty-handed. Despite admitting to the taxi ride, Muldoon initially denied the rob-
bery attempt during police questioning, then pleaded guilty at a later date. The court noted he was already under probation and a suspended sentence for previous offences.
Muldoon has 40 previous convictions, including four for burglaries and ten for thefts.
15 MONTHS’ JAIL FOR PASSENGER WHO CHASED WAKEFIELD DRIVER TERRORISED WITH KNIFE
A Wakefield Uber driver was subjected to a terrifying ordeal by Keiron Emson, 30, who has a history of violent offences. Emson entered the Uber while it was waiting for a fare. When the driver asked him to leave the vehicle, Emson refused and threatened to kill the driver. Frightened, the driver attempted to escape Emson several times, but
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Emson followed him, punching him in the mouth at one point. Seeking refuge in a takeaway shop, the driver was further terrorised when Emson entered looking for him, brandishing a foot-long meat cleaver he got from the counter. CCTV footage captured Emson returning to the Uber and stealing the driver’s phone before being
caught by police. During question- ing, Emson falsely claimed the driver initiated the violence. Emson’s criminal record includes assault and battery charges. Judge Christopher Batty
jailed
Emson for 15 months, emphasising the seriousness of threatening and attacking someone providing a public service.
AUGUST 2024 PHTM
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