Two teenagers who beat up and robbed a taxi driver in Northampton were captured on CCTV moments before getting into the car.
Patrick McMonigle, 17, and Jamie Doris, 19, were filmed by CCTV cameras at both the BP garage in Westbridge and the adjacent offices of Westbridge Taxis on December 3, before getting into a car and asking to go to Briar Hill.

But taxi driver Mushin Said was so concerned by their behaviour while on the journey to Briar Hill, he offered to drop them off early and waive the £4 fare.

Jenna Latchford, prosecuting at Northampton Crown Court, said McMonigle grabbed Mr Said while Doris joined in the assault, shouting demands for money.

After repeatedly punching him, the teenagers stole a computer communications device from the dashboard and ran off.

The court heard McMonigle, of Pitstone Road, Briar Hill, and Doris, of Mortons Bush, Wootton, were picked out from the CCTV footage.

Passing sentence, Judge Richard Bray, who gave both defendants two years’ detention, said taxi drivers had to be protected by the courts.

He said: "It must be said, yet again, that attacks on taxi drivers must be met with custodial sentences.

"They perform a vital role in this town and this area and the courts will take attacks upon them very seriously."

McMonigle had been given four months’ detention in February, for breaking an ASBO imposed for harassment.

Matthew Lowe, for Doris, said: "The penny has dropped with him that taxi drivers are deserving of protection in doing their work."

Insp John McKinney, of Northamptonshrie Police, said: "The close co-operation that now exists between the police and the taxi-driving community has enabled us to reduce crime against taxi drivers."

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