JUST DESERTS


KNIFE WIELDING MAN JAILED FOR OVER FOUR YEARS AFTER TERRIFYING OXFORD TAXI DRIVER


Aaron Johnson, 36, has been jailed for four years, eight months after admitting to robbing a cabbie at knifepoint in Oxford. Johnson received his sentence at Oxford Crown Court on 25 April, having pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and possession of a knife in a public place. The incident occurred one month prior when Johnson booked a taxi; after the driver, a man in his forties, took Johnson to an address and requested payment, Johnson produced a large knife and held it to the driver’s throat whilst


threatening him. Despite the terrifying ordeal, the driver was not physically injured. Johnson made off with a mere £6 in cash. The driver contacted the police and Johnson was swiftly located and caught within two hours of the crime. He was charged on the same day and held in custody pending his trial. Detective Constable Butler commended the rapid response of


the police teams as well as acknowledging the impact on the victim, saying: “The victim was traumatised by the offender’s actions and officers have supported the victim throughout this investigation.” DC Butler further emphasised the police’s commitment to tackling knife crime, asserting: “We will continue to respond robustly to knife-enabled offences and we are happy justice has been served in this case and a clearly dangerous offender has been taken off the streets.”


42 MONTHS’ JAIL FOR FOR SLEDGEHAMMER ATTACK ON NEWCASTLE CABBIE’S CAR


A 23-year-old Sunderland man has been sentenced to 42 months in jail after terrifying a Newcastle taxi driver by pulling a sledgehammer from his trousers and attacking his vehicle. Callum Cain pleaded guilty


to


attempted robbery, criminal dam- age, and possession of an offensive weapon following the early morning incident in June 2023. The court heard that the victim, a private hire driver, had dropped off a passenger in Sunderland city centre and was driving on the A183 when he encountered Cain, who was heavily intoxicated. Recorder Richard Stubbs at Newcastle Crown Court described how Cain “stepped out in front of the taxi” and then placed both hands on the bonnet. The situation escalated dramat- ically when the driver saw the


PHTM JUNE 2025


weapon. “At that point, he could see you were carrying a sledgehammer inside your pants, about two-and-a-half feet long with a wooden handle,” Recorder Stubbs stated. Despite an attempt by another man to intervene, Cain proceeded to attack the taxi. “You removed the hammer from your trousers and repeatedly struck the car’s windscreen with it,” the Recorder continued. The terrified driver reversed his vehicle as Cain ran towards it, shouting for the keys


before


turning his attention to another car. Dashcam footage corrobor- ated the attack. The victim reported feeling “scared


and shocked” by the ordeal. His taxi was out of service for a period, incurring £1,156 in repair costs and an additional £400 in expenses. Recorder Stubbs condemned the crime as a “persistent attack” on a “lone taxi driver going about his business.” Defending Cain, Nick Lane stated: “My client would wish me to apologise publicly. He recognises this must have been a worrying incident.”


Lane added: “He was intoxicated to the point he has no real recollection of the incident or his motivation at the time. It’s his case he came upon the hammer but he accepts he had it on his person and used it.” The court also heard that Cain has learning difficulties plus mental and physical health issues stem- ming from a difficult childhood.


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