Taxi Driver Online

Cambridge man produces 'machete', tells taxi driver 'I'll cut you up' after Christmas party




After throwing up in a taxi after a Christmas party and refusing to pay for the damage, a man produced a 'machete', telling the driver he would "cut him up".

Martin Mahon, 18, had consumed 18 cans of strong lager and a quantity of cocaine when he caught the taxi back from Cambridge city centre to his home address in Fanshawe Road at 1.30am on December 26 last year.

Mahon appeared at Cambridge Crown Court yesterday where he was handed an 18 month community order having previously pleaded guilty to robbery.

Prosecuting, Jonathan Seely told the court that, after threatening the taxi driver, Mahon produced a weapon and began to attack the taxi, smashing a window, before taking money from the driver, who fled the scene.

"Mahon was sick in the back seat," said Mr Seely. "The driver thought he should help clean up the mess and that he should pay for it."

The court heard that Mahon handed over a £20 note for a £13 taxi fare. Having been expecting change, Mahon was told by the driver that he would keep the whole £20 to pay for cleaning the taxi.

Mr Seely said: "The defendant then said he would go to get his machete and said he was going to cut the driver up. He went inside and returned carrying a large knife with him. He said 'give me the money or I'll cut you up'.

"He attacked the front passenger-side window, causing it to smash entirely. The driver then threw some money at him and the defendant went back into the address."

In mitigation, Shane Hauschild told the court Mahon took medication for ADHD which reacted badly when mixed with such an excessive quantity of alcohol. He said Mahon "Had a lot of growing up to do" and that, in the future, he may decide against drinking so much.

"It was a spur of the moment thing," said Mr Hauschild. "It was the result of drinking and drugs. He hopes he never ends up like this again. He is terrified of this. This is not who he is."

As part of the community order, Mahon will have to undertake 30 days of rehabilitation activities, as well as 80 hours of unpaid work. He was also told to pay £125 compensation to the taxi driver and £175 towards the cost of the prosecution.

Sentencing, Recorder Sutton QC told Mahon he was lucky to have avoided jail.

"In other circumstances, you would be facing immediate custody," he said. "I think you are lucky you have come before me because I will try to find a way not to send you to prison.

"This doesn't fall into the category of a normal street robbery. But I don't blame the driver for seeking recompense."


Read more: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambrid ... z45yVQm9UA

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Another tough sentence

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Hang on! The passenger told the driver he was going to get the weapon and the driver waited for him to come back?????? I think I would have been gone before the chap had got to the door and I would be ringing 999.

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Grandad,

That's the fun bit..

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Mahon appeared at Cambridge Crown Court yesterday where he was handed an 18 month community order having previously pleaded guilty to robbery.


plea bargaining at it's worst

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Clearly that judge hasn't read recent knife crime guidance/case law.

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IDFIMH