JUST DESERTS FOUR YEARS’ JAIL FOR HALIFAX MAN WHO HELD KNIFE TO CHEEK OF TERRIFIED CABBIE
A judge has jailed an armed robber for four years after hearing how he held a knife to the cheek of a terrified taxi driver. Bradford Crown Court heard that the unsuspecting victim had driven to pick up three men including Connor Dewhirst, 27, at 9am on April 2, 2022. Prosecutor Laura McBride told the court that Dewhirst got in the front passenger seat while the other two men, including one holding a beer bottle, got in the back of the taxi. “Suddenly the defendant produced a knife, placed it on the driver's cheek, demanded money and threatened to kill him,” said Miss McBride.
“He continued to hold the knife to his cheek and caused a small cut.” Fortunately the taxi driver did not have his seatbelt on and he was able to get out of the taxi and shout for help. Two female witnesses alerted the police and Dewhirst eventually fled with some cash and a PDA system worth £150. The taxi driver later picked out Dewhirst during an identification procedure and in his victim impact statement he described how the attack had left him suffering nightmares for months and he had taken three weeks off work.
During the incident the taxi had rolled backwards into a garage and the repair bill was put at £1,200. Dewhirst, from Halifax, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article. In a letter he read to the judge himself Dewhirst expressed his remorse for the offence
and
blamed a “cocktail” of drugs and alcohol for his behaviour. Judge Ahmed Nadim told Dewhirst that people like taxi drivers provided a valuable public service and they were vulnerable to such attacks. Therefore it is in the public policy interest that sentences be passed that are designed to
protect such vulnerable victims.
13 MONTHS’ JAIL FOR MAN WHO FORCED CABBIE TO SMASH THROUGH BRISTOL AIRPORT BARRIER
A boozed up white van man who subjected a taxi driver to a terrifying ordeal in which he brake- checked him, punched his vehicle and rammed him has been jailed. Bradley Iles had downed half a bottle of vodka then for no reason targeted the taxi chasing it for 30 minutes, Bristol Crown Court heard. The incident only ended after the taxi driver reached Bristol Airport. He was so anxious that as he was chased by Iles the cabbie smashed through the entrance barrier of the long stay car park before smashing through the exit barrier to get out. Iles, 25, from Patchway, near Bristol, pleaded guilty
to
dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and threatening
22
behaviour in September. Judge Mark Horton jailed him for 13 months, telling Iles: “You used the van as a weapon. Away from the incident and alcohol and whatever caused you to be enraged, you are a quiet, hard- working young man.” The judge banned Iles from driving for 22 months pending an extended driving test. The court heard the taxi was on its way to collect a fare from Bristol Airport when Iles overtook him and slammed his brakes on. So began a terrifying cat and mouse chain of events on the A370, which included Iles stopping in front of the taxi and getting out to try and talk to the cabbie. When
the cabbie declined to engage Iles punched his vehicle before chasing him again. The court heard that, at the airport, Iles rammed the taxi before the taxi smashed through the barrier of the long stay car park. After a chase round the car park the taxi smashed its way out and then Iles drove off. Police were called and found him later in Bristol city centre where he failed a roadside breath test. A later test showed he had 71 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The limit is 35. The court heard Iles, of previous good character,
had been
bereaved of his gran whom he had lived with and cared for.
DECEMBER 2022 PHTM
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