Taxi Driver Online

14 Mar 2008

Terror For Taxi Drivers At Hands Of Knifeman

A knifeman carried out two terrifying robberies on unsuspecting taxi
drivers who feared they would have their throats slit.

Drug user Ian David Diamond posed as a customer and then accosted his
victims, both in their 60s, when he arrived at his destinations, Leicester
Crown Court was told.

In separate incidents, the 28-year-old grabbed the drivers around their
necks from behind and held a knife to their throats, demanding cash. In
fear, they handed over their takings, and Diamond fled on foot.

He left a fingerprint on the window of one of the victims' taxis, which led to
his arrest.

Diamond, formerly of Malvern Crescent, Ashby, admitted committing the
robberies in quick succession, on September 15 and 19 last year.

Stewart Hamblin, prosecuting, said Diamond booked the first cab from a
firm in Ashby.

Using a phone box near his home, he asked to be picked up outside
Kwik-Fit, in Wood Street.

The driver took him to the Netto car park, in Coalville, where Diamond
claimed he was meeting a friend.

In a statement, the victim said: "I pulled up. I felt the man grab me from
behind and force me back into the seat by pushing against my neck.

"His left forearm was against my neck. I saw in his hand was a small knife
with a three-inch blade.

"He held it against my throat and I could feel the blade being pressed
against my skin. I was frightened to death.

"He said, 'give me the money', and I was fearful for my safety and
believed he would cut me if I didn't give it to him."

The victim said he gave about £60 to Diamond, who fled.

The court heard Diamond's fingerprint was detected on the cab's a rear
passenger window.

Two days later a driver working for Yellow Cabs, Coalville, was asked to
collect a fare from outside Kwik-Fit, in Ashby. The call was made from a
pay phone.

The defendant asked to be taken to Rotherwood Drive, Ashby.

Mr Hamblin said: "The male in the back took hold of the driver from
behind, holding a knife to his throat."

The driver then handed over his takings and the defendant fled.

Diamond was arrested on September 21 and initially denied the offences,
then admitted them, and then denied them again.

He originally pleaded not guilty in court to both robberies and an
attempted robbery on a third taxi driver, who allegedly suffered knife cuts
during a struggle in his cab on September 19.

Diamond was due to stand trial but then pleaded guilty to the first two
robberies, which the prosecution accepted.

It dropped proceedings on the attempted robbery allegation.

Mr Hamblin said that at the time Diamond was off ill from his £190-a-week
labourer's job, surviving on £58per week sick pay, and was a heroin user.

The case was adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
Diamond was remanded into custody to await sentencing in April.

Source: Leicester Mercury
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That's a good sign.

Also is it me or are more of this scum getting caught?

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IDFIMH