Newcastle yob jailedA drug addict has been jailed after targeting several taxi drivers during a 48-hour robbery binge.
Callum Tumilty ordered cabs from different firms, including Budget, Blueline and LA, before brandishing a 12-inch knife at the terrified drivers and demanding cash.
In total, he targeted five cabbies and a 17-year-old boy, who had just used an ATM, in the Walker area of Newcastle, stealing around £100.
All the incidents were reported to the police and Tumilty was later picked out by his victims at an identification parade.
Now, the 21-year-old has been locked-up for four years after pleading guilty to four counts of robbery, one of attempted robbery, one of theft and two of making-off without payment at Newcastle Crown Court.
He also admitted two charges of possessing a bladed article.
Judge Edward Bindloss told him: “Robberies are always serious, having a weapon makes them more serious still.
“Taxi drivers work long, unsociable hours and they are vulnerable to attacks like this - one of the drivers had worked all night when you took money from him.
“Taxi drivers deserve to be protected from people like you.”
The judge added: “This was a mad weekend of criminality, which came out of the blue and got out of control and ended-up with these serious offences being committed.”
Tumilty, of Troutbeck Avenue, Walker, had been on a crack cocaine binge on the weekend of March 11 and 12 earlier this year when the offending began, the court heard.
Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said one female and four male cabbies were targeted over the course of 48 hours.
He said: “At around 6.38am on March 12, a 52-year-old female taxi driver working for Budget Taxis attended Andrew Court for a fare, which had given their name as James.
“She picked up a male, who was outside on the pavement. He sat in the front passenger seat and said he wanted to go to Heaton but needed to go to a friend’s house first.
“He directed her to Byker Street, which was a dead end. The male then produced a large kitchen knife, with a 12-inch blade, and pointed it at the driver.
“He said ‘I need money, I’m in trouble, I want money. I’m sorry’. The taxi driver was petrified and thought she was going to be stabbed and handed over a £5 and a £10 note.”
Unhappy with the cash given, Tumilty began searching the vehicle, while continuing to point the knife at the cabbie, the prosecutor said.
He eventually fled when he couldn’t find any more money.
Mr Pallister added: “The driver was extremely scared - she thought she was going to be stabbed. She felt vulnerable as there was nobody around to help and she could only think of her grandchildren.”
The court heard Tumilty used a knife to go on to rob two male taxi drivers and attempt to rob another. He also stole a cash bag from a further cabbie and made-off without paying for two taxi fares.
In a statement, one of the male victims said: “This is the first time I have had someone threatening me with a knife. It was 12 inches long and could have easily killed me if he used it against me.”
Paul Caulfield, mitigating, said Tumilty was lightly convicted and committed the offences out of desperation after a crack cocaine binge.
He said: “The mitigating factors in this case are that there is no relevant previous convictions, his age and his lack of maturity.
“There is also little or no planning involved.”
No doubt if he'd gone for ven he'd have been put down in an instant :lol:
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