Teenagers Caged For Attack On City Cabbie
28th August 2008
Two teenage thugs were each caged for three years for the violent robbery of a minicab driver.
Antony Creed, 19, and Andrew Paterson, 18, were told by Judge Mark Horton at Gloucester Crown Court their vicious attack was an example of drink and anger among young men.
The court heard how Sri Lankan cabbie Arulampalam Ketharalingam was set upon by the pair on April 26 this year after he went to collect a fare in Abbeymead.
Mr Ketharalingam was left mentally scarred by the robbery, the court was told.
He was left with swollen eyes and a bloody nose as well as continual pain in his head, said Julian Kesner, prosecuting.
Mr Kesner said at 3am the taxi driver went to Richmond Road, where he was flagged down by Creed.
With Creed in the front passenger seat and Paterson sitting behind him, the taxi driver asked how they were going to pay – and then stopped the car in Finlay Road and asked them to get out.
Creed opened the door but then swung a punch at Mr Ketharalingam, which left him dazed, Mr Kesner said. Creed punched him again while Paterson held him down.
Mr Ketharalingam bit Paterson's finger and fled from the cab, Paterson got in and they drove off, said Mr Kesner.
Mr Ketharalingam had to take ten weeks off work and now only works in daylight hours, said the prosecutor.
In interview, Creed, of Mount Pleasant, Kingsway, who has been previously dealt with by the courts for 11 offences, said he was "smashed at the time".
Paterson, of Hill Hay Road, Matson, previously of good character, said he was drunk and couldn't remember much.
Both men admitted robbing Mr Ketharalingam on April 26 this year of a VW taxi, money and a torch.
Joe Maloney, for Creed, said there did appear to be genuine remorse while Nick O'Brien for Paterson pointed out that Creed was the first attacker.
PC Wenda Croker said police were pleased with the outcome and thanked those who called in about the attack.
Speaking after the sentencing Mr Ketharalingam said: "Now they cannot commit the same crime again and it will encourage other young people not to commit crimes like this.
"I feel the police and the court judge have done their jobs well and I'd like to thank everyone for everything they've done for me. Anyone who does anything as serious as this should get a strong punishment."
Source; thisisgloucestershire.co.uk
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