Turned out it was 'just' an air rifle, but of course the driver won't have know that
And he doesn't look particularly intimidating either. Does have a slightly crazed looked about him, though
Taxi driver who had air rifle pointed at him thought it was his 'last day on earth'
https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hu ... e-11112139
'One moment, I was knocking on his door asking for payment. The next, he was coming out of a side exit with a weapon'
https://i2-prod.hulldailymail.co.uk/art ... 0826dt.jpg
A terrified taxi driver feared that it was going to be his "last day on earth" when a customer suddenly started walking towards him while pointing a gun in his direction. The unsuspecting driver had just dropped off the man at his home in the early hours of the morning when, minutes later, he got the shock of his life.
He was left "feeling completely shocked and scared" by what happened and he later suffered nightmares, Hull Crown Court heard.
Dominic Trynka-Watson, 40, of Newton upon Derwent, west of Pocklington, admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence on June 14.
Billy Torbett, prosecuting, said that a taxi driver picked up Trynka-Watson from Coppergate, York, at about 2.45am. Trynka-Watson asked to be taken to Wilberfoss and he got into the passenger seat.
He did not say much during the journey but gave an address in nearby Newton upon Derwent. The taxi arrived there at 3.02am and the driver said that the fare was £26.80.
Trynka-Watson continued scrolling on his mobile phone before getting out of the taxi and going into his home. The driver saw the lights come on and went up to the door and rang the bell.
He returned to his taxi but, 20 seconds later, he saw Trynka-Watson come out of a side door and walk towards him pointing a black, long-barrelled rifle-type gun in his direction.
The driver reversed his taxi off the drive because Trynka-Watson was continuing to walk towards him. "He drove off at speed towards the direction of York," said Mr Torbett.
Police went to Trynka-Watson's home and he was arrested. The Remington Thunder air rifle that he had been carrying that night was found as well as another air rifle, a crossbow, plastic-tipped arrows, knives and a shotgun cartridges.
The taxi driver later said: "I was not expecting this incident and I remember at the time feeling completely shocked and scared. I felt it was my last day on earth.
"It lasted five seconds. One moment, I was knocking on his door asking for payment. The next, he was coming out of a side exit with a weapon."
The man drove off but he was worried that Trynka-Watson was going to shoot at him from behind while he was on the road. Trynka-Watson was not "at a safe distance" and the driver feared that he was going to fire the gun at his car.
"I haven't been able to sleep properly since," he said. "I have been having nightmares about that night."
Trynka-Watson told police during interview at Clough Road police station, Hull, that he had been out drinking at a friend's 40th birthday party. He had a conviction for possessing a knife in February 2023.
David Godfrey, mitigating, said that Trynka-Watson had only a vague recollection of the incident. "He knew what he had done in that moment was disgraceful," said Mr Godfrey.
"He got himself in a very intoxicated state and did something incredibly reckless and foolish. He has let himself down. This is terrible offending, strange offending. It's worrying offending.
"He likes target shooting and he has collected knives since he was very young, which isn't that unusual. He is drinking far too much.
"He is binge drinking as well. It's what led to this offence. His behaviour was brought on by lots and lots of alcohol. He needs to sort himself out.
"He needs to abstain from alcohol for a period of time." There were references for Trynka-Watson and he worked at a brewery in York.
Trynka-Watson was given a 15-month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours' unpaid work and 20 days' rehabilitation. He was ordered to pay £500 compensation to the driver and £61 for lost work.
He will have to pay a £187 victims' surcharge. The air rifle will be destroyed.