JUST DESERTS
PASSENGER WITH CLAW HAMMER WHO LEAPT AROUND CARDIFF CAB TERRIFYING DRIVER JAILED
A Cardiff cabbie was left terrified after a passenger entered his cab carrying a 30cm claw hammer during an early morning shift. Cardiff Crown Court heard that Cameron Bennett, 22, boarded the vehicle in the Ely area of the city on February 15, holding the weapon. During the journey, the driver kept his focus on calming the erratic passenger down. The court was told Bennett climbed unbelted from the front passenger seat into the rear while the car was still moving, jumping from side to side.
The driver later recalled feeling an “increased feeling of panic” and feared he would be threatened or assaulted with the weapon, though no direct threats were made. The driver dropped Bennett off near a busy area at 5.10am, saying he had another booking. As Bennett attempted to
enter
another cab, the driver gestured to his colleague not to pick him up. The cabbie flagged down passing police officers, gave them a description of a third taxi Bennett managed to board, and handed over a mobile phone left behind. Bennett appeared at Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing having pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place. The Recorder said: “You didn’t make any threats but the percep- tion caused the driver real distress.” He jailed Bennett for 314 days.
ACCRINGTON MAN JAILED FOR 42 MONTHS AFTER ATTACKING CABBIE WITH BEER BOTTLE
A man has been jailed for three and a half years after attacking a cabbie with a beer bottle. Lucas Simpson, 21, ordered the cab to take him and his girlfriend from Blackburn to Darwen in July 2024. Once
there, Simpson got out
without paying the £40 fare, leading the driver to follow him on foot. Simpson was carrying a crate of beer and swung a bottle that missed and smashed on the ground, before hitting the driver in the face with a second bottle. The cabbie suffered a cut above his eyebrow that left a permanent scar, lost £40 and developed anxiety around young passengers. Simpson was later identified via CCTV and arrested in December 2024. During a trial at Preston Crown Court, Simpson admitted making off with-out paying and hitting the driver, but falsely said the cabbie had made advances
PHTM OCTOBER 2026
toward his girl- friend. The jury dismissed the story and found him guilty
of
wounding with intent.
Sentencing Simpson, Judge Robert Altham slammed the fabricated defence, saying: “That was a wicked lie, told by you about an innocent man, just to get yourself out of trouble and without any regard for him at all.”
DUNFERMLINE BEGGAR TAGGED
AFTER RACIST TIRADE AT CABBIE A drunk beggar who targeted a taxi rank and subjected an Asian cabbie to racist abuse while exposing himself has been sentenced at Dunfermline Sheriff Court. Robert Hooper, 51, was handed a six-month restriction of liberty order after being found guilty of intentional exposure and racially aggravated abuse. The incident, which unfolded at 7pm on July 14 at Queen Anne St. after Hooper had been drinking
following a day of begging, was corroborated by a fellow taxi driver who confirmed he heard Hooper hurling abuse and shouting remarks such as “Suck on this”. Hooper claimed he was trying to get a ride home but admitted to showing his middle finger and the racist insult as he was annoyed the driver refused to take him. He denied exposing himself and insisted he was not a racist. The Sheriff rejected his version of events.
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