JUST DESERTS
28 MONTHS’ JAIL FOR KNIFE-WIELDING THUG WHO TRIED TO ROB KIRKCALDY CABBIE
A knife-wielding thug who tried to rob a cabbie in Kirkcaldy after his payment was declined has been jailed. According to The Courier, James Ross admitted assaulting Vitauts Zulps, repeatedly brandishing a knife at him and attempting to rob him during the incident on Saturday, February 12. Procurator fiscal depute Claire Bremn- er told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court that Ross, 44, had called a taxi using the name ‘Johnston’ at around 5.30am. Ross got in the taxi but the driver became suspicious of him and contact- ed his office to agree a “cash up front” fare of £15.
Ross insisted he could get the money from an ATM upon arrival at his desti- nation but the driver said he had a card machine to take electronic payment. Ross went back into the property he had come from and returned with a bank card but the payment was declined. The taxi driver then asked him to leave the vehicle and Ross became aggressive. Ms Bremner said: “He got out of the vehicle, opened the driver door and presented a knife and said ‘give me the money’ before saying ‘I’ll f****ng put one in you’.” Mr Zulps agreed to give Ross the
money, then fended him off while shouting for help and sounding the horn. A woman heard the commotion and shouted from her bedroom win- dow. Ross fled, the police were contacted and later identified Ross. Defence lawyer Graham Inch said on this occasion, although his client had been engaging with addiction services, he was using illicit drugs. Sheriff James Williamson told Ross his record is “deplorable” with a number of convictions for violence. He jailed him for 28 months, backdated to February 14 when he was taken into custody.
ROBBER WHO WAVED GUN AROUND IN WILLENHALL JAILED FOR 64 MONTHS FOR CABBIE ASSAULTS
A robber who brandished a BB gun at a taxi driver after demanding he hand over his car has been locked up for his ‘terrifying’ rampage. ‘Intoxicated’ Luke Birtchnell targeted two taxi drivers and tried to rob them of their cars during the ‘scary’ early- morning ordeal in Willenhall. The Birmingham Mail reports that his victims were left petrified they would be shot by the 21-year-old if they refused to hand over their keys. The convicted arsonist was heard mut- tering: “Oh that’s long” after he was jailed for 64 months for the frightening assault on March 17. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that the defendant ordered a taxi from 24 7 taxi company to take him home and then refused to leave the taxi, so driver Zulfqar Ali grabbed him by the wrist to chuck him out. The pair started fighting before Birtch- nell jumped into the driver’s seat and attacked his victim. Prosecutor Howard Searle said: “Mr Ali took his keys from the vehicle to pro-
JUNE 2022
tect it. The defendant made threats to shoot him and stab him and then punched Mr Ali to the nose, twisted his arm, chased him around the car before grabbing his glasses.” A passer-by stepped in after spotting the ordeal and stood between the two men, giving Mr Ali time to drive off. The court heard how the defendant did not have a gun when he threatened Mr Ali but then grabbed the imitation firearm from his home before calling for another taxi about an hour later. He asked the same taxi firm to take him to Poundland but he stopped the taxi in a cul-de-sac and pointed the BB gun at cabbie Bikramjit Sekha from a back seat. Mr Searle said: “Mr Sekha said he thought it looked real and it made him scared. Birtchnell placed it to his neck and shouted to give him the keys otherwise he would shoot Mr Sekha.” Mr Sekha quickly jumped out of his taxi and told Birtchnell to take the vehicle, the court was told on May 16. The victim then sought refuge with a man outside his house in the street
leading to Birtchnell threatening both the man and his neighbour, waving the gun and demanding they hand over their cars. He then ran off and was tracked by police and arrested. The court heard the defendant has 21 convictions for 14 offences including battery, arson, possession of a knife and threatening behaviour. Oliver Woolhouse, defending, said Birtchnell had a troubled upbringing - and had no recollection of the events because he was ‘intoxicated’. Sentencing, Judge Michael Chambers QC said Birtchnell also stole about £55 during the horrible ordeal. He jailed Birtchnell for 64 months. He said: “These were serious offences for which you clearly targeted terrified taxi drivers, demanding to steal their cars and their money. Taxi drivers pro- vide a public service, working into the early hours and are clearly vulnerable.” Birtchnell admitted three counts of attempted robbery, two counts of theft, possession of an imitation firearm and robbery.
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