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PostPosted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 5:37 pm 
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Articles about this kind of thing usually attract less readers, but this one a bit more interesting because of the legal arguments. Although possibly only interesting to the legal aficionados [-( 8-[

Bacup knife thug faces jail over taxi driver robbery and arson

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire- ... l-16005358

Christian James Niven could be classed as a 'dangerous offender'

Image
Image: Lancashire Live

A thug who robbed a taxi driver at knifepoint is set to face a lengthy prison sentence.

Christian James Niven, of Bacup, robbed Kenyons driver Parvez Akhtar of his red Skoda Octavia on February 2 and also threatened him with a knife, a court heard.

The 28-year-old was joined in the incident by a teenager from Rossendale, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The taxi was later destroyed in an arson attack, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Niven, of Sandfield Road, and the youth both pleaded guilty to robbery and arson.

Niven also pleaded guilty to threatening Mr Akhtar with a knife on Bury Road in Rossendale.

Keith Harrison, defending Niven, told the court: “So far as my client is concerned the robbery is captured on film. Any activity with the knife is not.

“He submits to the Crown’s assessment of the facts.

“It’s a joint defence case that someone else set fire to the car but this was a joint enterprise to destroy evidence.”

Hugh Barton, defending the youth, said: “My client gets into the vehicle after the violence has taken place. He has pleaded guilty on a joint enterprise basis.

“The co-defendant is older than him. It’s clear he plays a lesser role.”

Judge Sara Dodd adjourned sentence to May 7 and remanded Niven into custody.

She also ordered the probation service to carry out a dangerousness assessment.

She said: “Given the antecedent history of Mr Niven the court will be assisted by a pre-sentence report and a risk assessment.”

The youth was granted conditional bail but warned to expect a custodial sentence.

Judge Dodd said: “The offence to which you have pleaded guilty to are very serious offences and almost inevitably a custodial sentence will follow.

“Between now and May 7 you may have your bail on the same terms. It is no indication though of the sentence that will follow.”

LancsLive reported in January how Niven pleaded guilty to taking his girlfriend’s car on New Year’s Eve before crashing it into a parked Audi A3.


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PostPosted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 10:57 pm 
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Quote:
She also ordered the probation service to carry out a dangerousness assessment.

Can in some cases lead to a life sentence for crimes not usually applying to that offence, and in other cases often leads to a much higher sentence than would normally apply.

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PostPosted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 7:18 am 
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Quote:
driver Parvez Akhtar


thought it was one of my drivers a millisecond :roll:

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 8:15 am 
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Another 'dangerousness assessment'. As with the earlier case, not much to see here unless you're a sentencing buff. Which I'm sure we all are :-o


Young thug who robbed taxi drivers of cars could be classed a 'dangerous offender'

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire- ... i-16421463

Elliot Lee Boothman committed offences in Accrington and Rossendale and faces a lengthy jail sentence

A thug who robbed two taxi drivers could be classed as a ‘dangerous offender’ and face a lengthy prison sentence.

Elliot Lee Boothman, formerly of Oswaldtwistle, robbed driver Yasser Javid of his Skoda Octavia taxi and cash outside Omars Takeaway on Nuttall Street in Accrington.

Less than two weeks later the 23-year-old robbed another taxi driver, Parvez Akhar, of his red Skoda Octavia on Bury Road in Rossendale, a court heard.

Boothman pleaded guilty at Burnley Crown Court to two counts of robbery relating to the incidents on January 20 and February 2 this year.

The defendant also admitted driving the stolen Accrington taxi while disqualified and using the vehicle without insurance.

Prosecutor Emma Kehoe said Boothman was also charged with arson relating to the Rossendale taxi but the Crown Prosecution Service are now offering no evidence.

She told the court: “Some consideration and thought has been given as to whether, given the pleas that have now been tendered and the evidence involved in that case, it should proceed to trial.

“I’m instructed that it shouldn’t and to offer no evidence in relation to that outstanding matter against Mr Boothman.

“There isn’t a pre-sentence report at all in relation to Mr Boothman and there isn’t a victim personal statement [from the Accrington taxi driver].

“Clearly the victim personal statement will be relevant so far as sentence is concerned.”

Boothman, now of Linden Lea, Rawtenstall, was joined in the Accrington taxi robbery incident by co-defendant Jacob Christopherson.

The Rossendale taxi robbery involved Boothman, Christopherson and another co-defendant Christian Niven.

An earlier court hearing heard how the Rossendale taxi was destroyed in an arson attack.

Niven, 28, of Sandfield Road, Bacup, and Christopherson, 18, of Carr Mount, Rawtenstall, both pleaded guilty to robbery and arson.

Niven also pleaded guilty to threatening Mr Akhtar with a knife on Bury Road in Rossendale.

Judge Nicholas Barker ordered the probation service to carry out a dangerousness assessment for Boothman and for the prosecution to obtain victim statements from both taxi drivers.

He told the court: “I know [Boothman’s defence barrister Ricky Holland] didn’t seek a pre-sentence report in respect of Elliot Boothman.

“But it seems to me, given the sequence of these two offences and the involvement of others, that it’s important there be a pre-sentence report and that it will also address the question of dangerousness.”

Judge Barker adjourned sentence to August 16 and remanded Boothman and Niven into custody.

Christopherson was granted conditional bail.


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PostPosted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 2:52 pm 
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completely different names to one in first article so were there more than two ?

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 6:11 pm 
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Another 'dangerousness assessment'. As with the earlier case, not much to see here unless you're a sentencing buff. Which I'm sure we all are :-o

Basically it allows the judge to give extra years and/or an indeterminate sentence that can keep him in jail until such times he is deemed safe to release.

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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 11:26 am 
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The three men involved in knifepoint taxi robberies in Rossendale

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire- ... i-17363852

Two cabbies were targeted in the space of 13 days

Image
Elliot Boothman, Christian Niven and Jacob Christopherson (Image: Lancs Live)

Three men involved in knifepoint taxi robberies in Rossendale have been jailed for more than 16 years.

Christian Niven and Elliot Boothman attacked a driver before stealing his taxi. It was later torched causing a ‘traumatised’ young family to flee their home, a court heard.

In a separate incident 13 days earlier Boothman and co-defendant Jacob Christopherson robbed another cabbie.

Prosecutor David Clarke told the court the first robbery involving victim Yasser Javid was in the early hours of January 20.

Preston Crown Court heard how Mr Javid picked up Boothman and Christopherson in Rawtenstall before taking them to Accrington.

Mr Clarke said front seat passenger Boothman was ‘acting weird and making odd comments’ including saying to Mr Javid ‘You can stab me, he can stab me’.

When they arrived at a takeaway Mr Javid saw Boothman was holding a ‘large eight-inch kitchen knife’ and the defendant shouted ‘get out of the car, I will kill you’.

The court heard that Mr Javid was ‘in fear of his own life’ and when Boothman ‘pushed the knife towards him’ it made contact with his torso but caused no injury.

Mr Clarke said the victim tried to grab the car keys and knife, but Boothman pushed him away and he fell back into the road.

The taxi was driven away by Boothman, but was spotted on a petrol station forecourt in Burnley three hours later by police who arrested both defendants.

The court heard how officers found a Snapchat video taken at 3.18am which showed Boothman driving the stolen vehicle away from the scene.

Christopherson could be heard shouting ‘we just robbed a taxi’ before one of the defendants shouted a racial remark.

In a victim statement, Mr Javid said he is now anxious and scared, particularly when working at weekends, and has reduced his working hours.

Boothman and Christopherson were released under investigation but were then involved in another knifepoint robbery on February 2.

Mr Clarke said Niven and Boothman got into Parvez Akhar’s taxi on Bury Road, Rawtenstall and Niven ‘immediately leant over and swore’ at the driver.

The court heard Mr Akhar saw front seat passenger Niven was holding a knife and tried to grab the blade, but cut four of his fingers.

Back seat passenger Boothman then grabbed hold of Mr Akhar and punched him to the shoulder while Niven punched him to the body and face.

When the victim fled the taxi Niven reversed it at speed into a wall. Christopherson then got in, before it was driven away at speed. The incident was captured on a dashboard camera.

Mr Clarke said 90 minutes later the stolen taxi was set on fire outside Balladen Community primary school. However, it ‘rolled back’ onto a wall near a house occupied by a couple and their children.

The court heard that the ‘traumatised’ family were awoken by loud banging and saw an ‘orange glow’ outside. They fled the house through a back door.

Richard Orme, defending Niven, said the arson was ‘an attempt to conceal forensic evidence’ and that the vehicle rolling back to the house was an ‘unintended consequence’.

The barrister said Niven banged on the door to alert the householder to the danger. He said: “It’s clear that alcohol has been the downfall catalyst in this defendant’s chaotic lifestyle. He has anger management problems and he wants to address this.”

Ricky Holland, defending Boothman, said there is an ‘element of thrill seeking’ to the offences which is ‘troubling’.

He said his client was also ‘attracted to drugs and alcohol’ and has now ‘found himself in the depths of despair’.

Hugh Barton, defending Christopherson, said his client has led a ‘transient and rather isolated life’ and moved to Rossendale in January to ‘remove him from negative influences’.

He said: “He began associating with these co-defendants who are significantly older and more heavily convicted. He does take responsibility for his actions. There is genuine remorse. These are grave offences but he played a lesser role. He is a particularly vulnerable and impressionable young man.”

Judge David Potter said Boothman used a ‘fearsome weapon’ when robbing Mr Javid and described the attack on Mr Akhar as a ‘frightening experience’.

Niven, 29, of Sandfield Road, Bacup, pleaded guilty to robbery, arson and threatening another with a bladed article. He was jailed for 56 months.

Christopherson, 18, of Carr Mount, Rawtenstall, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and one count of arson and was sent to a young offenders institute for 53 months.

Boothman, 24, of Linden Lea, Rawtenstall, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and one count each of driving while disqualified and with no insurance. He was jailed for seven years.


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 8:43 pm 
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All 3 look like they are high on something in those mugshots !!

Sounds like they need some time with Nidge's mate Leroy

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 3:58 am 
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The court heard how officers found a Snapchat video taken at 3.18am which showed Boothman driving the stolen vehicle away from the scene.

That's how f***ing thick some folks really are.

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