Pair jailed for attack on terrified taxi driver in Northampton
TWO men who robbed a taxi driver in Northampton were traced through the mobile phone they used to book the early-hours fare, a court heard.
Derry Crowshaw, 21, and Jamie Doris, 22, called for an A1 taxi to collect them from an address in Ashmead, Little Billing to be taken to Tescos in Mereway in February.
Northampton Crown Court heard there was no answer at the address and the driver was about to leave when they appeared and confirmed they had ordered the taxi.
Michael Waterfield, prosecuting, said the driver was directed to two separate locations around Northampton before taking them to Baring Street in St James, Northampton.
He said: “Crowshaw put his right arm around the driver’s neck and began to squeeze his windpipe, causing him difficulties breathing. His other arm was against the back of his head.He said ‘If you move or shout, I will stab you’
“Although he did not see a knife the taxi driver feared for his safety.”
The pair then robbed him of £150 takings and iPhone before the pair ran off.
But after police traced Crowshaw and Doris through the phone they had used to book the fare, he picked out both men from an ID parade two months later and they were charged with robbery.
Crowshaw, of Floribunda Drive, Briar Hill, and Doris, of Abington Avenue, Abington, Northampton pleaded guilty to the mugging, committed at about 5.30am on February 8. Judge Lynn Tayton QC, who jailed them each for four years, said: “I have seen the victim impact statement and it’s clear to me the taxi driver has suffered a great deal as a result of this.
“He has become fearful when carrying out his driving duties – an ordinary man trying to look after his family as best as he can.”
The court heard Crowshaw was jailed for 27 months in May 2008 for robbery while Doris previously received two years’ detention for a similar taxi driver robbery in 2008.
David Everrett, for Crowshaw, said the robbery had been committed to pay off a drugs’ debt.
source: http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/
