JUST DESERTS
HAMMER WIELDING THUGS ROB WIGAN CABBIE IN LATE-NIGHT AMBUSH
A Wigan cabbie was subjected to a terrifying ordeal when a routine 2am. booking turned into a violent robbery. The driver was waiting for a customer in Platt Bridge on December 29 when two masked men suddenly approached his black Hyundai Ioniq.
While one man opened the passenger door, his accomplice cornered the driver and threat- ened him with a hammer. Inside
the cab, a strug- gle broke out as the attackers snatched mobile phones from their cradles. Thomas Stewart, 29, ransacked the centre console while demanding: “Where is the money?” During the raid, the driver was struck with the hammer on his hand and again on his calf. The
thugs eventually fled with £90 they found under a floor mat, tossing the car keys away as they escaped. The entire attack was captured on the vehicle’s dashcam, providing police with crucial evidence that led them to Stewart’s home in Scholes, Wigan. He was arrested and sentenced to four years in prison for robbery on 20 February. However, the man who wielded the hammer remains at large.
LATE NIGHT CAB ROBBERY AT KNIFEPOINT ENDS IN 3-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR COATBRIDGE MAN
A late-night robbery involving a taxi driver held at knifepoint has resulted in a 22-month prison sentence for a Coatbridge man. Mark Doyle, 36, appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court to
face the
consequences of the September 2024 attack, which saw the driver lose his earnings and his car keys. The incident began just after 1am
when a taxi was dispatched after a booking was made from Doyle’s phone. Doyle and his accomplice, Jamie Lee Black, 30, entered the vehicle and the situation turned violent as both produced knives. Doyle said: “Give us all your money.” During the struggle, Doyle grabbed a pencil case from the driver’s door containing £200 in
fares. He then snatched the car keys, leaving the driver stranded. Police caught up the pair later, finding Black with over £80 in cash. She was sentenced to 26 months in prison late last year. Doyle’s sentencing was delayed but eventually included an extra 14 months for unrelated crimes bringing the total to three years’ jail.
16 MONTHS IN JAIL FOR RACIST THUG WHO STAGED TERRIFYING MOCK BOMB COUNTDOWN IN LEEDS
A racist attacker who sparked panic by claiming he had planted a bomb and counting down to a “blast” has been sentenced. Aaran Barden, 33, carried out a series of vile attacks last August, beginning with a taxi driver taking him to Middleton, telling him: “You p*** b*****, one of you took my money and drove off yesterday.” On 12 February Leeds Crown Court heard that Barden then began to talk about a “bomb” and said he
10
had one in his bag. He told the taxi driver: “I’m going to blow you up.” He then shouted out of the car window to a group of Asian women, ‘F*** off you p*** b*******.’ Barden then targeted a woman, her sister-in-law and daughter in the street, and after shouting, “Go back to your f****** country,” he followed the family into a shop where he claimed to have a bomb, forcing staff to hide the family. Finally, Barden followed one of the
women to her car, kicking the doors and beginning a mock countdown. The victim, trapped in the passen- ger seat, was left in fear for her life. Barden, who has a history of racially aggravated harassment, pleaded guilty to communicating false information and three counts of racially aggravated disorderly behaviour. The judge ruled that the severity of the threats and the “vile” nature of the racism warranted a 16-month jail term.
MARCH 2026 PHTM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74
