Armed robber threatened to 'slash up' taxi driver in early hours attack in Sunderland

Daniel Bates, 38, had "lured" a driver to pick him up in the early hours of May 29, 2019, by booking a nine-mile trip through City Taxis.

But Newcastle Crown Court heard when the cabbie asked for cash to settle the fare upfront, Bates, who was armed with a craft knife, grabbed a coin dispenser from the car.

The driver got out of his cab and put up a brave fight to protect his property but eventually backed off after Bates pulled out the weapon and threatened to slash him.

Prosecutor Jessica Slaughter told the court the cabbie, who she described as "stoic and robust" had been called to pick up the fare at Pizzalicious in Fencehouses to take the passenger to Southwick in Sunderland.

Miss Slaughter said: "His procedure was to ask for money upfront and he did that.

"The defendant was not able to give him the money and so he said he was not going to take him to Southwick.

"The defendant opened the driver's door, leaned in and took his coin dispenser and ran away.

"The complainant ran after him, caught up with him and there was a short scuffle, coins ended up scattered on the ground."

The court heard Bates appeared to then "give in" but Miss Slaughter added: "At this stage the defendant suddenly produced a Stanley knife and threatened to slash the complainant up.

"The defendant advanced on him and after kicking out at him a couple of times in order to defend himself, the complainant decided it was not worth it."

The court heard when the cabbie backed off, Bates ran with the coin dispenser.

In a victim statement, the cabbie said he works hard to provide for his family and said Bates, who has a long criminal record which includes previous convictions for robbery, is an "awful person".

He added: "I won't be looking over my shoulder but if I this ever came around again I wouldn't hesitate to protect myself from these kind of people.

"I feel he will go on, probably for the rest of his life, doing what he does to get by.

"I believe he will commit crime again. I hope I never have to cross paths with this lowlife ever again."

Bates, of Richard Street, Sunderland, denied robbery but was convicted by a jury after a trial.

Judge Sarah Mallett sentenced him to five years behind bars with an extended two-year licence period.

The judge said Bates poses a risk of harm to the public and told him: "This was, in my view, a planned robbery in that you lured the taxi driver to that location intending to either steal from him or rob him at some point during the journey."

Steven Reed, defending, said: "He was homeless at the time, dependent upon drugs, stealing to survive and fund the addiction he has."

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