JUST DESERTS
DRUNKEN LEEDS THUG WHO ROBBED CABBIE AND SAID: “I’LL STAB YOU” JAILED FOR 22 MONTHS
A drunken Leeds man who threatened to stab a taxi driver during a terrifying robbery has been jailed for 22 months. Tinashe Magwenjere, 29, grabbed the driver by the throat and demanded cash after a dispute over a £7.50 fare in the early hours of 14 April last year. The incident unfolded in the Little London area of Leeds, when Magwenjere, refused to pay the driver after his girlfirend had pre- booked the cab for him. After paying the fare, Magwenjere photographed the driver’s regi- stration plate, prompting a confrontation. He leaned into the
driver’s window
and gripped the driver’s throat so tightly he strug- gled to breathe. He then said: “Give me the money. I’ll kill you, I’ll stab you right here.” Magwenjere repeated the threats until the driver handed over £50 from his pocket. The driver immediately called the police, who arrested Magwenjere. As he was being led away, Magwenjere shouted: “I’m going to deal with you, remember that.” Magwenjere admitted a charge of
robbery. He has previous con- victions for shop thefts and bail act offences. Magwenjere later told a probation officer that he was only trying to get his money back, but confessed he was drunk. He said he made no excuses for his actions and wanted to apologise to the cab driver. At Leeds Crown Court, Judge Kate Rayfield told Magwenjere she had watched the footage taken from the taxi, accepted it was out of character but said: “It was a particularly vulnerable victim. Taxi drivers work alone and late at night.” The Judge jailed him for 22 months.
DRUNK CYCLIST WHO SPEWED RACIST SLURS AFTER TAXI COLLISION IN MELTON FINED £80
A drunk cyclist who collided with a taxi in Melton town centre was arrested after launching a racist tirade at the driver. Matthew Cooper, 42, admitted racially abusing the taxi driver after “ramming his pushbike” into the side of the vehicle. The incident unfolded when a police officer on duty was approached by the taxi driver, who requested Cooper’s
arrest.
Prosecutor, Sukhy Basi, told Leicester Magistrates’ Court that Cooper had directed racist abuse at the driver following the collision. When the officer confronted Cooper, he fled on his bicycle but the officer pursued him, arrested him then called for back-up. Mr Basi stated: “The defendant was heavily intoxicated and shouting
PHTM FEBRUARY 2025
abuse in the street. He threatened to headbutt one of the officers and made racist remarks.” Cooper’s behaviour continued in the police van, where he banged his head against the door and made further racist comments. His past convictions include public
order offences and criminal damage. He pleaded guilty
to causing
racially-aggravated alarm, haras- sment, or distress. He said: “I’ve got a big gob at times. I didn’t mean to clip his car.” Cooper was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge.
JAIL FOR BURY DUO WHO BEFRIENDED MAN TO SHARE CAB THEN ROBBED HIM
Two men, Ryan Hitchman and Owen Parkes, befriended a drunk man leaving a Bury nightclub. They convinced him to share a taxi, then robbed him at knifepoint. The victim was threatened with a knife and forced to surrender his belongings. He managed to flag down a passing ambulance before
telling paramedics of his ordeal and receiving treatment. Police, investigating a similar incident, identified the robbers through CCTV footage. Both men pleaded guilty to robbery. Hitchman received a two-year prison sentence, while Parkes was sentenced to three years, six months.
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