Quick tips for the new forum
To add a link use - [url]www.yourlink.com[/url]
To add an image use - [img]http://www.yourimage.com/filename.gif[/img]
To style your text - view this post
|
TERROR FOR TAXI DRIVERS AT HANDS OF KNIFEMAN
Last Post 03/04/2008 04:49 PM by Tony. 0 Replies.
|
Sort:
|
|
 Prev Next |
You are not authorized to post a reply. |
|
Tony
TF MVP
Posts:663
 |
| 03/04/2008 04:49 PM |
|
A knifeman carried out two terrifying robberies on unsuspecting taxi drivers who feared they would have their throats slit.
Drug user Ian David Diamond posed as a customer and then accosted his victims, both in their 60s, when he arrived at his destinations, Leicester Crown Court was told.
In separate incidents, the 28-year-old grabbed the drivers around their necks from behind and held a knife to their throats, demanding cash. In fear, they handed over their takings, and Diamond fled on foot.
He left a fingerprint on the window of one of the victims' taxis, which led to his arrest.
Diamond, formerly of Malvern Crescent, Ashby, admitted committing the robberies in quick succession, on September 15 and 19 last year.
Stewart Hamblin, prosecuting, said Diamond booked the first cab from a firm in Ashby.
Using a phone box near his home, he asked to be picked up outside Kwik-Fit, in Wood Street.
The driver took him to the Netto car park, in Coalville, where Diamond claimed he was meeting a friend.
In a statement, the victim said: "I pulled up. I felt the man grab me from behind and force me back into the seat by pushing against my neck.
"His left forearm was against my neck. I saw in his hand was a small knife with a three-inch blade.
"He held it against my throat and I could feel the blade being pressed against my skin. I was frightened to death.
"He said, 'give me the money', and I was fearful for my safety and believed he would cut me if I didn't give it to him."
The victim said he gave about £60 to Diamond, who fled.
The court heard Diamond's fingerprint was detected on the cab's a rear passenger window.
Two days later a driver working for Yellow Cabs, Coalville, was asked to collect a fare from outside Kwik-Fit, in Ashby. The call was made from a pay phone.
The defendant asked to be taken to Rotherwood Drive, Ashby.
Mr Hamblin said: "The male in the back took hold of the driver from behind, holding a knife to his throat."
The driver then handed over his takings and the defendant fled.
Diamond was arrested on September 21 and initially denied the offences, then admitted them, and then denied them again.
He originally pleaded not guilty in court to both robberies and an attempted robbery on a third taxi driver, who allegedly suffered knife cuts during a struggle in his cab on September 19.
Diamond was due to stand trial but then pleaded guilty to the first two robberies, which the prosecution accepted.
It dropped proceedings on the attempted robbery allegation.
Mr Hamblin said that at the time Diamond was off ill from his £190-a-week labourer's job, surviving on £58per week sick pay, and was a heroin user.
The case was adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Diamond was remanded into custody to await sentencing in April.
STORY |
|
|
|
|
| You are not authorized to post a reply. |
|
Active Forums 4.1
TaxiForums.co.uk is a proud supporter of the
uhuw project
|