JUST DESERTS
MURTON MAN JAILED FOR FOUR YEARS AFTER TAXI ROBBERY AND HIGH SPEED CHASE
A 25-year-old man from Murton has been sentenced to four years in prison after robbing a taxi driver, racially abusing him, and leading police on a dangerous high-speed chase that ended in a crash. Niall Duffy used a two-foot-long pole to threaten the taxi driver in the early hours of 8 February, demanding cash and stealing his dashcam before fleeing the scene.
Duffy’s actions escalated when he then led police on a chase through Murton, even crashing into the porch and living room of a house, before finally crashing into a fence. He attempted to flee on foot, he
was caught and arrested. At Durham Crown Court, Duffy pleaded guilty
to a string of
offences, including robbery, possession of an offensive weapon, racially aggravated fear of violence, dangerous driving, and driving while disqualified. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment and received a seven-year driving ban.
NEWCASTLE MENACE JAILED AND BANNED FROM CITY SUBURBS AFTER TAXI ATTACK SPREE
A prolific offender who terrorised taxi drivers across Newcastle has been jailed and barred from entering two city suburbs. Tony Hall, 36, carried out a series of attacks on taxis and other vehicles in Heaton, Jesmond, Fenham, and the West End, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. Hall’s actions prompted an
investigation by Northumbria Police and New- castle council’s licensing depart- ment, resulting in a Criminal Behaviour Order. On his release from a 32-week prison sentence, Hall will be banned from entering Heaton and
Jesmond for two years. He’s also prohibited from covering his face in public, touching vehicles without permission, and carrying items such as wood or stones. The CBO, granted at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, was issued after Hall pleaded guilty to theft, fraud, and possession of crack cocaine.
MAN TO PAY COMPENSATION FOR RACIAL ABUSE AND URINATING IN ASHFORD TAXI DRIVER’S CAB
Charlie Brown, 38, has been found guilty of racially aggravated harassment and criminal damage after verbally abusing and urinating in the taxi of driver Khyam Bahadu Thapa on a ride from Ashford to Maidstone in 2023. Brown, who denied the charges, made repeated comments about Mr Thapa’s “slanty” eyes. During the trial, footage was played which revealed Brown asking: “Not being funny, but is it because you have slanty eyes?”
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and later,: “Is that because your eyes are slanty?” Mr Thapa, who is of Nepalese and Filipino heritage, testified that he felt “frightened” and “in danger”. He also described how Brown urinated in his taxi. “I heard something flowing. I turned back and realised he was peeing in the car,” he told the court. Brown admitted to making “silly
and immature” comments but claimed they were “descriptive words” and “weren’t racist.” He also attributed the urination to intoxi- cation, saying: “It felt like a balloon was going to explode. I’m embar- rassed I wet myself at that age.” Magistrates convicted Brown, ordering him to do 150 hours unpaid work, a 12-month community order, and to pay £1,352.40 in compensation and costs, including £358 for the taxi's carpet and vent repairs.
MAY 2025 PHTM
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